The food is outstanding. The menu has plenty of choices however, they always have some specials that you can ask about. The staff has always been extremely helpful and friendly.
(5)
HeiYoung P.
This place is the best sushi for St Louis area!!!! I've been told and agree that I'm very critical and a sushi snob
(5)
Ryan S.
Nippon Tei is a great find if you happen to be in the Ballwin/Manchester area and love sushi. Modern and slightly upscale feel. These folks know sushi...including the stranger (more hardcore) stuff! To put an extra exclamation on that, they are enthusiastic about it. The staff is very knowledgeable and personable. They will happily assist you with menu and drink (saki!) selections - if you have ANY questions, ask...and take their advice. The food is crave-able. End of story. Must visit. Service: 30 / 30 Decor: 25 / 30 Food: 27 / 30
(5)
Pete H.
Nice place, but sushi was nothing spectacular. The rolls were entirely too big, I love getting my money's worth, but you eat sushi in one bite. This is nearly impossible with these size rolls. They also fall apart easily. The sushi (rice and fish) was slimy and fishy tasting. Prices were okay, $27 for 2 Plain Jane rolls and 2 pieces of Salmon Sushi and a drink, tip included. I know good sushi when I taste it, take my word for it, I lived in Tokyo, Japan the last 2.5 years. I would say it's on par for St. Louis, but I have had much better stuff stateside in San Diego, prices were a lot higher though. All around not bad sushi, just the same stuff every other place has here. Service was good, not great, it was a little busy and a Friday night. Nice place for big groups to share a lot of different stuff.
(3)
Jim W.
Loved the sushi here. Always fresh and the service is great too. We live nearby and when we have a yearning for sushi, it's the place to go.
(4)
Tammy M.
Love this place! You can relax in the lounge bar area, or dine at the table side. The sushi is always fresh. I recommend the octopus salad spicy tuna and caterpillar roll.
(5)
Margaret F.
Delicious. Great service. Love the miso soup and pad Thai, light and full of flavor. Egg rolls are crispy and delicious.
(5)
Scott T.
Best Sushi in St. Louis hands down and an awesome/romantic atmosphere...I've been to all the big names (several times). Service last night was excellent, we brought our 8 month old baby and they were very accommodating & attentive. I have been to Nippon Tei 5 or 6 times and I think it's gotten even better recently. Seriously, if you are a sushi lover...You have got to check this place out. Plus, for a date night....It's going to work out nice for you! lol
(5)
Charles C.
I wouldn't say that I'm picky or snobby about the sushi that I eat, I just know good sushi period. Don't get me wrong about the 3 stars, Nippon tei is a solid restaurant and the sushi is good, but it's just not outstanding. St. Louis has so much amazing food, but sushi is not one of them. I will say that for a Midwest sushi restaurant, this place holds it's own. But if you've ever had fresh toro in San Diego, you're not stopping here for an average spicy tuna roll.
(3)
Wendy K.
Best Sushi in St. Louis hands down. Favorites are the Alaskan Roll, Baked Manchester, Spider and I think the Sumo. Actually I have never had a bad roll or bad service. I love this restaurant. I am a huge Sushi fan and frequent them all in St. Louis, Nippon Tei is my favorite. Nobu is good, but still doesn't compare. For those of you wanting authentic, you are in the wrong town and dont write a review. The bar area is great for a strip center sushi restaurant in West County and I fully recommend.
(5)
Mariya N.
Let's just say for Saint Louis sushi it might be ok but what a horrible staff, I mean just rude and very ignorant. The server had a nerve to ask us to tip him after he ignored us and didn't even bring us water for over 20 minutes. We set at the bar and order from a sushi chef behind a bar so of course we left her a tip and got yelled at by a server . The sushi got so small you can barely taste the fish. The spicy tuna roll doesn't even taste like tuna it tastes more like tempura crumbs with a tuna flavor. The roll is rolled with so much rice it's actually very hard to eat. I would never go eat there and wouldn't recommend it for anyone who knows what good sushi should taste like.!!!!
(1)
Farooha M.
I very much enjoyed this place. Nice quiet kind of dark atmosphere. We went on a Saturday night around 6 pm. We got the veggie tempura , crab Rangoon and four rolls of sushi. The black magic dragon , Alaskan , spicy crab roll and the shakira. All of them were pretty good. But the spicy crab roll was my favorite. I really like the Alaskan also , but it had this sweet sauce on the top I didn't like. The veggie tempura was awesome. I LOVED the crab Rangoon. Super crispy , nice dipping sauce. 4 people with a bill of 70 for all that so not bad. I would come back again
(4)
Son V.
We ordered white dragon roll, which is spicy tuna roll with fish on top. The roll is ok, just like other americanized sushi rolls! price is similar to other sushi places in st. louis. We also ordered the tonkatsu with rice! the dish is ok but not that great! We ordered a pad thai, which is expensive and not good at all! i dont think i would come back because overall, the food is average but kinda pricey!
(3)
Marci E.
My new favorite sushi. Had the tuna tartare with ginger and I couldn't believe how delicious such a simple dish could be.enjoyed several of the rolls -fish much higher quality than nearby places. The stirfried rice was outstanding too and I couldn't place the delicious flavor. Miso soup was also good and not over salted like many. Service was fine for takeout and early dinner.
(5)
Christy A.
I love the ambiance here. It may seem a little dark to some but it's just the right "dim" for me. It's located in the plaza next to Hot Shots. The sushi is delicious; a bit slow at times but delicious. The bar seating is super tight so I'd suggest choking a table unless you're solo. There's also a private dining area for groups and privacy. l
(4)
Chris Z.
This used to be one of my favorite spots, but I am not as enamored as before. The rolls are still ok, the space is still nice, but I think the quality has dropped a bit. The no longer have their signature Baked Manchester roll, but instead suggest the baked clams. I didn't want to order them so the waitress (I think Katie?) was nice enough to bring me a complementary order. Holy, they are good... and really similar to what I remember about the baked Manchester. They also used to carry flash fried spinach, but now have fried gailan... which I think are the leaves from a broccoli plant... it wasn't nearly as good. We ordered the Shakira, White Dragon, and Dynamite rolls. The wife thought the dynamite roll was too spicy so I finished that one. The dragon roll seemed to be the best, with flavorful tuna and eel. Our server was great. Very attentive, and apologetic about not having some of our favorites, but came back with great recommendations.
(4)
Matt O.
It's pretty simple.. Excellent food, HORRIBLE service. I have been here about five times since I discovered it. There is one server in particular that they should get rid of without question. She's middle age with glasses. Stay clear of her! She has a horrible attitude and blames the customer for their errors. It took 45 minutes to get three rolls that weren't even made correctly. Then she brings out another roll that we did not order and insisted we ordered it. We asked for one roll to be made with soy paper instead of rice. She came back 30 minutes later to tell us that they don't make rolls that way. Actually, the do sweetheart. I've ordered it that way MANY times. I could go on and on about her attitude and errors she has made but you get the point. If they get rid of her and the attitude and accuracy of the service improves, I would love to go back. Note: don't order the "side" of broccoli. It's four little pieces and costs $5
(1)
Susan H.
The service can be slow sometimes but the food is worth it. The potion sizes are great. Three rolls, app and miso soup are filling for 4 to 5 people. They have some fun mixed drinks.
(4)
Yoshi K.
Restaurant is in an older strip mall located right near Hot Shots Sports Bar...great looking menu !! Sushi Chefs are amazing. Lots of fresh and creative choices from the drinks to the food. The Restaurant manager is very nice and accommodating to requests. We went there with a large group and they did a great job keeping up with all of our orders and special requests. Can't wait to go back and try some of their menu items. BTW we requested the Chef's special that night, where you set the price point and let the Sushi Chefs go at it and do their magic. We were not disappointed. Can't wait to return.
(5)
Lori P.
This is my second visit to Nippon Tei, and both were very good. My guests and I ordered the spider roll, St. Louis Roll and Philadelphia Roll...all of which were excellent. Some of the best sushi I've experienced east of the Rockies. I gave this place four stars instead of five because the service was unimpressive, and we were there late - about 9 PM - so it's not like it was packed full of people and too busy. Our waiter wasn't very good at communicating. Had to get him to repeat himself a couple of times, and it took a bit of effort to flag him down with a question, even though the room was nearly empty. If the owners put some effort into instructing the waitstaff in excellent customer service skills, this place would be a definite five star location.
(4)
Shawn F.
Great Food. Horrible service. Many mistakes. Dishes going back and it took over an hour to get it right. One lady in particular was very rude. She tried to blame us when it was clearly marked on the sushi paper. I've had her service before and she is always mean and condescending. The restaurant needs to get a better staff to match the quality of their food. Will not return until then.
(2)
Angie A.
Amazing sushi! The Alaskan Rolls are a must! Tonight was our first time trying this place and we were very impressed by the quality and cost of food as well as the service. The atmosphere is romantic too! We will definitely be back!
(5)
Sheryl K.
Came here on a Friday night at the busiest dinner hour and got seated right away. I chose to sit at the bar because I usually like to converse with the chefs. To my surprise there was a lady behind the counter who was pretty friendly. Sushi selection was nothing to rave about although the prices were surprisingly the best I've seen. $6.95 for a special roll? I'll take it! My server was attentive and got my dishes out of the way (cuz I'm a fatty like that), and also never left my hot cup of tea empty. Love it when that happens! I guess what upset me was the price for their seared tuna. Uhm $25????? What a joke! When I inquired about it, they said it was their dinner portion. I had to restrain myself from laughing because I chomped that down in seconds... Yes it was good, but not $25 good. I'll try their dining entrees next time.
(3)
Jason B.
Very good sushi - fresh tasting and large pieces. The only reason I am not giving them five stars is their selection of rolls was not that impressive/creative. But I would strongly recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys sushi.
(4)
Stewart P.
Christine had me worried given all the other reviews but my personal experience last night was mixed. We had a group of 8 here for a birthday and overall, we enjoyed our experience but that is certainly more because of the people. The food I found was pretty good on my initial visit here starting off with salmon dumplings and pot stickers, everyone enjoyed them. The rolls we all ordered were all eaten to the last piece and I had the most interesting one, the Baked Manchester roll. It comes out looking like a baked potato so it took me awhile to figure out there actually was a cut up roll underneath the toppings. This was a pretty good dish. Where they really failed was the service, not very good at all. Apps came out without any napkins or chopsticks and it took a few minutes to get those. Two salads and extra water requested never came and dirty dishes sat there, even given several chances to clear them and even after business had settled down. They were still on the table when we left and we were in a spot in the lounge the waiter had to constantly go by. Also, I ended up sitting right under the TV so of course that was very annoying, but not only to me, and mixed with the dance music overhead, uggh. Why is it that every Asian restaurant has to have a TV in it and this one ruined what could have been a pretty nice lounge experience. Might I try this place again? Probably not unless someone really wants to go.
(3)
Christine D.
One of our favorite sushi restaurants in STL. We went back to STL after 2 year hiatus and this restaurant was on our list. Sushi is always fabulous. Service is a bit slow and needs to be improved. Don't come here on a Friday or Saturday night if you don't have enough time to make an evening out of dinner.
(4)
Tonya V.
We went to this restaurant tonight with a group to celebrate a special occasion. After ordering our drinks, it took 45 minutes for them to arrive at our table; appetizers took an hour; and the two sushi rolls that I ordered, along with everyone else's food took an hour and a half. The food was fairly good; however, the service was mediocre at best. The server was not able to make good recommendations to guests that had allergies and specific food restrictions. I was never asked if I wanted a second drink. And although the menu stated that an 18% gratuity would be charged to large groups, when we received our checks a 20% gratuity was added. After addressing this with our server she tried to justify it saying that they charged extra gratuity for groups our size. I spent many years working in the service industry, & I could not believe that a server that delivered service the caliber that she did would even consider increasing the auto gratuity amount on a large group without saying something about it. I reduced my tip amount to the 18 percent stated on the menu, but really it probably should have only been between 12 or 15 (and that is being courteous and from a service industry alumna). My personal opinion is that there is much better Japanese food and service in the st. Louis area and I will not be going back to this restaurant.
(2)
Becca G.
Absolutely the best sushi in St. Louis!! My boyfriend and I have tried a good amount of sushi restaurants and now refuse to go anywhere except Nippon Tei because nowhere else comes close. They have amazing rolls, great prices and huge portions that make you wonder how they can do it, but it's exactly why I keep going back. We LOVE LOVE their white dragon, spicy scallop, spicy tuna, shakira (warm roll with ell, spicy tuna, roe and avocado), octopus salad and seaweed salad! I could easily eat here every single day. I really recommend trying at least one of my favorite rolls b/c you have to be crazy to not love them too!! The white dragon roll and spicy scollap roll are ridiculously delicious. Nippon Tei's food is AMAZING!!!! Just writing this review and adding pics makes me want to go sooooo bad...if only I lived closer!
(5)
Rachel D.
AAAaaamazing sushi!!!! Always FRESH fish and rice. If you truly LOVE sushi, you know why that's a must. If you LOVE palate-tasting sushi, don't bother going anywhere else, unless it's Wasab, in Town & Country. Long drive, short drive, it's absolutely worth your trip and $. I'd absolutely consider myself a regular at Nippon Tei, and kick myself for letting my friends drag me anywhere else!! All I've had is the octopus salad, miso soup, nigiri and specialty rolls, oh, and SAKE!:) They have the best spicy tuna roll and yellowtail roll!!! MMM!! I love a good Phili roll, and they actually class it up with fried cream cheese!! Very nice! Ikura is the best quality of freshness I've had. I like simplicity and tasting the fish, so I've only had a few specialty rolls here and there. No complaints whatsoever. I've been going here consistently for three years and have never had a bad experience. They stay busy, but service and staff take care of you. Sometimes overly friendly and sometimes it's all business, more so when busy. But in all honesty, the sushi is such great quality, I'd serve myself if I had to.
(5)
Robin C.
Had the White Dragon Roll and the Shakira Roll and both were quite delicious. Will definitely come here again very soon!
(5)
Tasha K.
MY ABSOLUTE, HANDS-DOWN, FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. BEST SUSHI EVER, EVER. How are there only 16 reviews on this place?! EVERYONE I ever take here fall in love. I grew up in St. Louis and this restaurant has been a staple in my life for years, and even now after moving North & traveling a lot. Every time I come home to visit, I ALWAYS make at least one visit to this restaurant. I have to. It's the best for so many reasons. The fish here is so fresh; the rice is perfectly seasoned with the right texture. You may not be a connoisseur but you can tell. Immediately. Non-sushi people change their opinion about sushi once they try GREAT sushi here. Everything is good. If you have to ask for my favorites: 1st and foremost, you have to get the SPICY TUNA ROLL. Yes, I know. Spicy tuna, woo hoo. Doesn't' sound special right? You couldn't be more wrong. They take the freshest red tuna and blend/mix it w/ the most perfect combinations of green onion, tempura flakes, and probably other fantastic things I can't make out but the roll will just melt in your mouth while your stomach screams with satisfaction. My second fav is the spicy crab roll (or get it as a hand roll). For appetizers, you must get the CRAB RANGOON. It's not your typical Chinese pocket of deep-fried goodness--- somehow they took something already yummy and found a way to actually improve it! They come out looking like eggrolls filled with the yummy, crab-infused cheese that come with a perfect match of sweet and slightly spicy sauce. A must. Also, go for the HOUSE SALAD. The presentation is beautiful and they make their own miso dressing that is to die for. So fresh and light. People always see me eating it and ask what it is. Do it. Oh this is getting long but there is so much to say! Other yums are the flash fried spinach app (the leaves melt in your mouth. literally!); the peppercorn sea bass, the yellow curry anything (any meat/seafood you like), and the scallop dishes. This is a family owned business, owned by a woman who can be summed up as a truly beautiful person. She treats you like family, she treats all of her employees as family (and a lot of them are), and in turn, the entire restaurant becomes your family. There are many regulars. Once you go, you can easily see why. This restaurant is a great destination for everything: dates, family dinners, girlfriend get-togethers, business lunches, all of it. The decor is tasteful and surprising given it's strip mall location. Do not let this facade fool you. You are in for a treat. Come as you are. The atmosphere is as casual as you want to make it or as formal as you want to get. Go now. Have a Lychee martini for me since I'm far away and tell everyone I said hello. You won't be sorry. This is my favorite place to eat--- and I eat a lot. I think it will become yours too. :)
(5)
Duncan M.
Rather close to my office so, and one of a few Sushi places around. I tend to rotate through them at this point. This one was my latest. I've never been there for dinner so I don't know what it's like at night, but during lunch, the place is always a bit empty, which is perfect if you just want to sit, have some lunch and not have to yell at the person across the table. The wait staff are a little slow time times, on more then on occasion I have received my food and not had chopsticks, but they are very nice about things and correct issues quickly. Sushi is really good, and it's priced nicely.
(4)
Allison C.
Super great sushi, though the dinner entrees aren't as great as the sushi bar. The servers are very friendly!
(4)
Anne J.
I stumbled onto Nippon Tei thanks to Yelp! when I was looking for some Japanese food (not sushi, sadly) that was close for lunch. Since my first visit, I've been there a couple more times. The first time, I got takeout and it took 15 minutes and was served hot and with a smile. It wasn't too busy at lunch time, but it seemed like everyone knew each other in there. The servers/chefs greeted almost every person by name. To me, that's an indicator of great service. Both times I got the same thing, so I'll get to that in one moment. The second visit, I met a friend here, also for a weekday lunch, and we dined inside. I didn't really get a chance to appreciate the atmosphere the first time, but it's quite nice. It's elegant without being pretentious and also feels warm. That's a hard combination to accomplish in my opinion. I had the vegetarian spring rolls which were delicious and filled with veggies rather than a lot of fillers. Because I don't like sushi, I'm always looking for places that I can go and have a successful meal with my friends who salivate over the fish rolls. I had the yakisoba which was terrific. I got it with chicken and it was a perfect ratio of chicken & veggies to noodles. It was satisfying, not at all greasy (as I've found some other places are) and they were able to spice it up for me. When asked for it spicy, they ask for a number from 1-5. I always get 3 and am satisfied with the spice level. The sauce is delectable, both sweet and savory. I will definitely be back!
(4)
Tom L.
pretty bad sushi, and definitely not authentic. Not sure if any who works there has ever been to japan. The fish was pretty large portion, but did not taste fresh. I had an "already been chewed" edamame on my plate - unfortunately stuck it in my mouth before I looked at it. I guess they did not want to waste food and reserved some leftover edamame. Not sure if that is what made me sick to my stomach, probably not because my wife also felt sick to her stomach that night. Ask for fresh food and YMMV.
(1)
John D.
I went back to this place after many years since I went, which was what my first review was based on, and even then it was foggy. I still remember this place well, and I enjoyed the service I got here. We didn't get any edemame, which was fine because of this good service. It was confusing near then end because we were waited on by about 3 different people. I was surprised they didn't get mixed up on what we had or if we had ordered! Our water was constantly being filled, even when it wasn't half-full yet. Very close attention to us, and their sushi still is amazing. At reasonable prices, Nippon Tei satisfies me!
(4)
Robert S.
Love love love the lobster tail. Good service and fair atmosphere.
(3)
Liz A.
This was fun! The bar is really cozy and dim and you sit on couches. It's relaxing and you can stay for a while and eat slowly... really laid back and it was actually pretty good! I was very pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be going back here. I forget the name of it, but they have a "special" roll with chili pepper and it was great! Very spicy but great... definitely worth a try.
(3)
Christine F.
I have to say, I've been here twice, and the first time the sushi was pretty good, but this time it was AWFUL. Okay. I'm not a sushi snob by any means. Usually I can't even tell the difference. I love sushi - all sushi is good sushi! GET IN MAH BELLY! Sigh. I learned that is not actually the case. Went last night, service was prompt, but we were also the first party in the whole restaurant walking in at 5:00pm. The complimentary edamame was nice, but cold. I prefer my edamame nice and hot. The sushi was just terrible. The dynamite roll literally had PILES of chile pepper flakes or whatever that powder was on them, and even after scraping it off, they were so incredibly spicy to the point they weren't even good. The California rolls were bland and completely mushy. My squid nigiri tasted alright but like it had been sitting out. When it comes to sushi, I always finish my plate. But this is the first time in the history of EVER that it was so bad I didn't even bother finishing. The server did not ask how our food was, which was disappointing because I would have told him. I think he could tell something was wrong though by my less-than-impressed face. He was kind of jittery and nervous nearing the end. But no move to make sure we were happy with our meal or anything. I'm guessing by the huge mix of reviews on here that your experience at Nippon Tei is largely determined by who makes your sushi. I believe ours was made by a younger guy - tall, husky, dark longish curly hair, glasses. I want to say his name is Nicholas or something? Yeah....he needs to go back to sushi school. The dynamite roll, two orders of california rolls, a squid nigiri, a snapper nigiri, and one green tea = $40. When almost all of it is nasty? OUCH. The quality of this sushi put me off enough that I don't think I'll be back. EDITED TO ADD: Um, so I just did the math and I don't know how much the tea was, but according to their website the sushi should have only added up to $28.50. So unless that tea was like, $5, and the refill my dining partner got was not free, that order was not right. Or he really did spend $10 in tea. Either way, yeah, not going back. EDITED TO ADD AGAIN: So apparently my date ordered an Alaskan roll, and was too distracted by my awesomeness (ha!) to realize they never brought it out. So we were charged for something we never got. Lamesauceeee.
(1)
Jenny P.
Despite it's great reviews by other Yelpers, I was not that blown away by Nippon Tei. My roommate and I were craving sushi and were recommended to come here by Yelp and a friend so we decided to give it a shot. First off, they get bonus points for serving FREE edemame as an appetizer. I usually pay $4 to $5 for it at other sushi restaurants. The mango sake drink I have was alright, but not worth the price I paid for it. On to the main event...SUSHI! We had the philly roll, tempura roll, tuna roll, and california roll. They were all yummy, but I would have to say I have had better. Actually, out of the hand-full of sushi restaurants I have tried, this was the worst sushi I have tried, but I cannot say the sushi was bad by any means. Don't get me wrong, it was still tasty. The other big thing was that the rolls were actually falling apart. I have never had this happen. Therefore, I can say that the presentation and the ability to get the sushi from the plate to my mouth without falling apart did make me unhappy. I am willing to come back to Nippon Tei, but I have to say I already have my other favorites. The prices were average compared to other sushi bars, so that won't really help them out either when it comes to bringing me back. We will see!
(3)
Nikks F.
Love Nippon Tei! My boyfriend and I enjoy checking out numerous sushi restaurants through out the STL, with no doubt this place is always guaranteed to be excellent. We always miss the rush and get in towards the later portion of the evening based upon my work schedule and every time we receive exquisite service, usually by the same gentleman. Aha, the food!! yummmm I long for their crab rangoon, rolled up in wonton wrappers similar to how your typical egg roll looks. If you enjoy crab rangoon you'll melt. A frequent disappointment at several sushi restraints is the inadequate portion of fish they give you in the orders of shashimi. Not here!! On some occasions they dish out an unbelievable amount of large slices of their wide variety of fresh fish. On the weekends they serve live scallops which for those of you that enjoy various textures will gladly enjoy! They also provide a couple more select options on the weekends only, I can't think of them off of the top of my head but well worth the effort in asking if you do make it in. For the sushi rolls, a couple of our faves happen to be: Dynmaite, Shakria, White Dragon, Black Dragon, Spicy Tuna, Phile accompanied by several others
(5)
Lindsay W.
Great place and in the county no less. The food and presentation was great. We sat at the bar so we had a front row seat. The two Sushi chef's were really cool and chatted with us as they made their sushi master pieces. My friend and I ate so much we thought we would pop from all the goodness!! The servings are good size and they have a traditional and an ala carte menu. It all amounts to lots and lots of tasty choices. Why 4 stars. Sadly my veggie tempura was a little bland. The veggies were fresh and the dipping sauce was tasty but the tempora batter. . . well aeh. . . not so good.
(4)
James G.
I haven't been here in several years, so take my review with that in mind. We used to love this place, great Japanese/Sushi/Fusion. Service was a little slow but food was good. One really good waiter and if you got him even the service was good. We didn't stop going because of anything they did, they just got too popular. We live about a mile away and this was a nice local joint, when they asked if we had reservations it was time to find another. It's kinda like going to the block pub and getting snubbed because your not on the list like a posh nightclub. Great place, but if we are planning ahead enough for reservations, we're not eating in Manchester.
(4)
Carol S.
Just had my first experience here and I'll come again.. The best thing I can say is the sushi is very heavy. If you are a fresh sushi lover and prefer blending the flavor of fish and its toppings over sauces that completely mask the flavor of the fish then this is not the place for you. The reason I gave 4 stars is because as much as I love creative fresh sushi fusions, which is what I prefer 90% of the time, I can also appreciate rich sauces and heavy creative rolls when done well. This was definitely done well! Delicious! Come with an appetite because the portions are big and again the sauces are extremely rich. As an example, even the basic Philadelphia roll had balls of tempura covered/fried cream cheese vs just cream cheese. Which btw, was delicious!
(4)
Jason K.
Nippon Tei is one of the first sushi restaurants I ever experienced in St. Louis. I used to go basically every other weekend with a couple of my good buddies because the sushi was high quality. We started off with crab rangoon and mussels usually for appetizers. I would suggest both of these at this restaurant. If you want to experience one of the best spicy tuna rolls/hand rolls, I think Nippon Tei will give any St. Louis sushi restaurant a run for their money. This is definitely a popular choice here. If you are looking for good rolls I would recommend the Baked Manchester Roll (crab in it), Shakira roll is pretty good, Alaskan Roll is very good, White Dragon (eel), Fujiyama roll is extremely big but good as well. The portions are pretty big and I would try not to order too much because you may be overwhelmed. The atmosphere is a good place to bring a date because they dim the lights and it could be considered somewhat romantic. Their is also a section in the back that is pretty trendy with tables/couches and TVs around while you eat sushi. As for the service, they offer on the house edamame which is nice but overall I think it is fair. It is a good place to experience if you are a sushi eater! (other sushi suggestions would be Drunken Fish, Tani, I Love Mr. Sushi, and Miso)
(4)
Raheel L.
Sushi, an Japanese delicacy is an artful dinning experience for some of us. Sure, you can find a sushi restaurants almost every where these days, but are they any good? When it comes to sushi, I think the authenticity's of the products and the producers is a key. Sure, you can walk into a sushi place, and find a Mexican making your sushi (not trying to sound racist or sexiest) sometime its really really good, others its just awful. So when it comes to Nippon Tei sushi, if i can describe in one word, I would say, it is 'phenomenal.' I've visited this place several times, every time, I've been satisfied with the products and the service. There is a huge diversity in the menu, giving you options to choice from. Prices, I think might be little high but you're paying for a great sushi. I've been to a lot of sushi places around St. Louis, and I've to say Nippon Tei ranks in my top 10 places for Sushi in St. Louis and in west county locations, ranks top 3 I can't speak how your experience here will be based on the others reviews for Nippon Tei, but as an sushiaholics, I think you will be satisfied once you visit and try it.
(4)
Laura K.
Nestled in a strip mall among a gym, a sports bar, a Christian goods store, and a furniture store, I wouldn't have figured that Nippon Tei would be any good. Wow was I wrong. Nippon Tei offers a huge selection of sushi for (maybe a little bit high but still reasonable) a great price. The first time I went there, I sat on the restaurant side. Small, intimate tables placed closely together make it seem like a tiny cafe rather than a bustling restaurant. I didn't know though that there was an entire other side, which looks more like a club and is reminiscent of Sake, a favorite sushi place in Columbia, Mo. Either side is great depending on your mood, but I can almost guarantee that you wont get out of there for cheap. Save it for a special occasion.
(4)
Chip K.
The sushi, taken in itself, would get Nippon Tei five stars. We used to go here quite a bit when we lived in the area, and have never had bad sushi. I'm partial to the spicy tuna and the dynamite rolls. There are two things, however, that have brought my review down. First of all, their "fusion" cuisine is for the most part sub-par. I have never had chicken fried rice or pad thai that was as bland as what I've had at Nippon Tei. Stick to the sushi menu. Secondly, I have had MANY bad experiences with their service. On one particular occasion, my wife and I waited for nearly forty-five minutes *after being seated* until the waiter even came to take drink orders. (My wife was too big of a sushi fan to leave, and I was too soft-spoken to complain.) On our most recent visit, the staff never brought out the complimentary edamame, was slow to refill drinks, and forgot one of the things our table ordered. I don't want to give the impression that their entire staff is incompetent. There are some waiters who do their job just fine. But there are several who we dread getting stuck with when we come. So, to conclude... come for the sushi. Be wary about the other food. And you might get stuck with bad service.
(4)
Lesley S.
Bad service but the sushi is oooo sooo good!
(4)
gabe u.
We have been going here for the last several years, and it still remains one of our favorite restaurants. In fact, when going out, we usually choose this place- even for non sushi eaters. The new Saki-Tapas bar is an added plus that we commonly enjoy. First off, the sushi is wonderful. I consider the Spicy Tuna to be the best in the city. My wife adores the specialty rolls as well. Secondly, the Japaneses-Thai fusion menu is wonderful. I don't think that there is anything fancy on the menu, but it always taste wonderful. They have done a lot with a strip mall style restaurant. the Ambiance is great, dim lights, trance music, and a very friendly staff. It is probably one of the most overlooked restaurants in the city. Its a great first date, meet the parents, anniversary, or engagement restaurants in West County.
(5)
Laura S.
The sushi was DELICIOUS!! The only thing that was concerning was some of the service issues... We sat at the bar to wait for a table and it took the bartender roughly 3-5 minutes to ask us what we wanted to drink or give us a drink menu. She was not busy. Then we noticed a table being cleaned off after only about 5-10 minutes. We waited another ten minutes before the bartender said, "oh I'm sorry I forgot you were waiting for a table, you can head over now." We the ordered saki. I'm not super experienced in the saki dep't but when I do order cold saki, it's usually just a shot. She brought us a huge bottle! That ended up costing us $14. I just wish she would have provided us upfront info. that we were purchasing a whole bottle of saki. And she was also the bartender so it was a little awkward the whole time... But overall I'd def go there again if I was in that area!!!!
(3)
Jon V.
My wife and I visited Nippon Tei for a nice dinner without the kids to ring in 2009. The restaurant is tucked into an unassuming location in a West County strip mall. Inside, though, the decor is pretty nice and fits the sushi / fusion theme. There is a good mix of sushi and more typical entrees (steak, tempura, etc.) as well as a bento box entree. The sushi was fresh and rolled nicely. On this visit I tried the Futomaki roll and it has become a favorite of mine. This vegetarian roll has egg, pickled radish, some other stuff, and a sweet sugary red paste that really surprised me and gave the whole roll a very distinct and pleasing taste. I highly recommend you try it out. We went fairly early on a Saturday (about 6pm) and the places was just about full when we left at 7:15pm. They just opened an attached lounge which was decked out with very comfortable booths, pillows, cool lighting, etc. If we didn't have to get back to the kids, I would have liked to see if it picked up later on. The waitstaff said it does pick up after 10pm or so. The drink menu at the restaurant was pretty extensive with some cool martinis, a good sake selection, plum wine, etc. They also served a complimentary bowl of edamame (boiled soybeans in the pod). I thought they were very stringy but now realize after a bit of internet research that I was supposed to squeeze the beans out of the pod and discard the pod. I''ll enjoy them next time, I suppose.
(4)
S T.
Nice ambience. Very crowded. Portions are large, but the food is subpar. The sushi is ridiculously large and impossible to eat, and only ok in flavor. Would be a nice place for a roll and a drink but thats about it.
(3)
Jan W.
Ranks one of the best in St. Louis for Atmosphere, Service, Food and Cleanliness! Our dining experiences have been outstanding for years! They added an intimate dining area and lounge a year or so ago with lower lounge table seating and dim lighting...the perfect get away for that special date! The Sumo Roll that Whitney creates is the best in town as well! The service we receive from both Brian and Mia is unbelievable. They also have terrific take out and catering! Give it a try!
(5)
March H.
Best sushi I've ever had by far..I have been here several times. My favorites are the spicy tuna and spicy crab rolls! The rolls are so big its almost hard to chew! A great place to go if you enjoy sushi.
(5)
Bob W.
Nippon Tei sets the standard for all other local Sushi bars with outstanding service and attention to detail that never changes. Always a pleasure to visit for lunch or dinner. Lemon grass mussels are a must and regardless of other choices from the the extensive menu, the presentation and quality of each dish will impress the most discriminating foodie.
(5)
Jeff F.
This sushi and fusion place is currently my favorite place to get sushi in west county. It's next to Gold's Gym at Weidman and Manchester. It's a great place for a date, the lighting is low and the food presentation is colorful and artistic. My brother and I go there a lot and sit at the bar (sushi bar) and every time the chef has made something for us for free. When you go, you have to get the Spicy Tuna Roll. It is amazing; peerless in STL. Friday and Sat nights are really packed so either go early or late to avoid a very full dining room. Good eating!
(4)
Emily K.
When one is in West County and needs sushi, one must go to Nippon Tei. I'm a true city girl but I have some friends that live out West, so when we meet up I always request sushi at Nippon Tei. If anyone is new to sushi, I recommend going here first. Their sushi rolls are very tasty, especially to a palette that might not care for "Oh my God, it's raw fish" sushi. While not the very best nigiri-style sushi I've ever had, the quality is always consistent and the fish is just about as fresh as you can get for St. Louis. Atmosphere is pleasant, they play good tunes, and the vibe is comfortable and elegant. Service is always efficient and friendly. So again, make sure to take your newbie-sushi friends here - I love love LOVE the Shakira roll, it's Tempura eel-sauce goodness that's probably nothing particularly authentic but is really freaking good!
(4)
K H.
I love good sushi. This place started my love affair about 5 years ago. They do Spicy Tuna different than most, but I cannot get enough. The have very fresh fish and very friendly staff. Yes, sushi can be slow at times when the place is busy. But they really do their best. Also on list-Alaskan roll although I don't like this one for take out. It doesnt hold up as well as some of the others. Great sashimi, sake, appetizers, etc. I suggest the flash fried spinach-its fantastic. Also-crab rangoon will blow your mind. I actually get upset when in San Fran and I cant get a decent spicy tuna roll for under 8 bucks, but I can get one for under $6 in St. Louis...
(5)
Karen F.
I love this place. They have the best sushi I've found in town. I've had no problems with the staff as others have posted but think the freshness and the quality of the fish is top-notch.
(5)
Callie O.
I am a huge fan of sushi, and I always thought you had to live on the coast to get great sushi, but little did I know a SUSHI HEAVEN was tucked in a little shopping center in Manchester MO! This place took my breath away. Their sushi was fresh and they had a great menu with rolls that I had never tried before. They have one called the Fujiama Roll that is to die for! Also a stuffed crab roll that is amazing. It is a loungy feel and they have a great wine list as well. The sushi is very moderately priced, and did I say DELICIOUS! Great experience, great scene, great place for a night out!
(5)
Jessi R.
Ok, so they have GREAT sushi. BUT the service was the worst I have ever had. AND they were not busy at all. AND when we asked to talk to the manager....wait for it....the waiter was the mananger! Several tables sat down and just never got waited on so they left. The table next to us sat and sat and sat and finally asked where their food was and apparently he lost their order and never put it in! He was so bad with us too and then had the audacity to add a 20% gratuity! I think not! I refused to pay the gratuity. It was a joke!
(1)
Stephanie R.
Nippon Tei is delicious! I truly enjoy their sushi and cooked food entrees. I mostly go there for lunch, since it's close to my work, and they have great (and reasonable) lunch specials! The staff is always friendly and I enjoy their presentation - even on the simple things like hand cut vegetables in their salad. Definitely a place to visit!
(4)
Joel W.
Awful experience at lunch today. They had plenty of cooks, waitstaff, busboys,... and were not very crowded,... but the service was extremely extremely slow - 2 hours for lunch. I watched plates of sushi/sashimi sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before they were delivered to tables. Our order was one of those. By the time we got it, it had warmed almost to room temperature. We got there at 11:30,... there were only 2 other groups there before us. Our order was small and uncomplicated. We got the first part of our food (6 pieces of nigri sushi) about an hour later. We didn't get the rest of our food (2 rolls) until another half hour later. We finally paid and walked out nearly 2 hours after we arrived. We've had that lunch experience several times. I need to remember not to ever go there for lunch again.
(1)
Jennifer B.
We love this restaurant....I have NEVER had better spicy tuna sushi!
(5)
Nancy P.
nippontei-stl.com excellent white miso & flash-fried spinach with chili-lime & sweet & sour sauces... nippon tei offers both traditional and fusion done with finesse. this restaurant is a favorite of mine for lunch. the tempura shrimp & veggies are really good. they offer a nice variety of lunch items, and have a sushi bar as well. they have fab spider roll! the tonkatsu is lovely as well as the chicken yellow curry. bento box & shabu-shabu is available at dinner - the bento is excellent! i have not had their shabu-shabu. dinner items are excellent with larger portions. mango ice cream makes a perfect dessert. or green tea ice cream, if you prefer... you can do lunch for under or around $10 (price range is $6.95 - 9.95) - more for an evening meal. fusion decor - nice! attentive wait staff. this is a small, intimate restarant. they do have take-out available.
(5)
Doug W.
I always start my sushi reviews with this: I grew up in Hawaii and have had the real deal hundreds of times. With that said, Nippon Tei is very good. I don't think you'd go wrong eating there. Nice dark atmosphere.
(4)
April B.
This place has the best sushi I've had in the St. Louis area. The sushi rolls are huge so be prepared. I also had the teriyaki and it was very good, as is the miso soup. We got the shrimp tempura and the dipping sauce was lacking, as was the tom yum soup. Definitely get the sushi rolls here, they're worth it!
(4)
Matt W.
This place has what is probably my favorite roll, the fujiyama roll. I highly recommend you give that a try. I've had a ton of other rolls from there over the last few years but I can't remember the names... which is the case for most sushi places I go to! They have a room wih tables set up, and another portion of the restaurant is more trendy with couches you can sit at while you enjoy your sushi. I highly recommend Nippon Tei.
(4)
David H.
Sushi is very fresh and delicious. The only problem is they never have uni (sea urchin). Tonight I called to check and they had it. Drove 1/2 hour to get there and, guess what, no uni.
(3)
Tim M.
Had several good meals here. Sushi has always been fresh or tasted fresh anyways. They are a bit slow but for the money this place is a favorite.
(4)
Kelly B.
Great food at great prices but slow service that never refills your drink without a fight. I go here all the time but I never count on friendly or efficient service. The sushi makes the service worth it.
(4)
Rob S.
Awesome. Prices are very affordable. Went with some friend and spent about $6.00 per sushi roll. Nice. Great atmosphere. Will definitely frequent again.
(5)
Stacey S.
We are here for my daughters birthday. The food was fine, nothing amazing. I would not race back for a meal. We ordered spicy tuna roll, a Philly roll and a speciality roll for the night. Also got a shrimp tempura as an app. The shrimp was flavorless. Also the place seemed dark. I would have like a bit more lighting to be able to see my food
(3)
Kaci G.
Soo good. Hits the spot. Great sushi; great entrees. Lobster roll comes in a sweet huge red wine glass with tempura. Sumo roll on point. Scallops entree is fire. Lounge area quite chill. Ready to relax in this nice vibe.
(5)
Casie G.
My favorite sushi place in all of St. Louis! I am a regular here and everyone I have taken here has loved it as well! First off the owner Brian, such a sweet guy! very personable, funny, patient just everything that a great owner should be!Also if he makes your drinks you will fall in love! The prices are fantastic for what you get especially for lunch. for around $11 you get soup, salad, one roll and 3 pieces of nigiri. My favorite roll though is just the simple spicy tuna roll. So much flavor and I just can not get sick of it! Tempura roll is amazing as well because of how light the batter is! Drinks are fantastic too! my favorites include mango sake, midori margarita, and the raspberry mojito. Seriously try this place out it is so worth it!
(5)
Lynn M.
This place has the best sushi in all of St. Louis. The only place close is Tani. The prices are reasonable. My favorite is the spicy tuna roll. What a deal for size! Their lunch special is fantastic too.
(5)
Dave K.
Went there this weekend. Had been satisfied in the past. This time , the menu has been drastically shrunk. Service was ok, food was a huge disappointment. Place was half empty on a Sat. Night tells me things have gone down hill. We will not be heading back anytime soon
(1)
Peter P.
Food was decent at best atmosphere was ok at best... After ownership change this place is going down hill and the service is lacking.... Tried spicy tuna pad Thai some other dishes but I would say that it's probably one of the worst places for sushi...
(2)
Lukky O.
Used to be a regular. Was one of my favorite sushi places. They have changed their sushi menu, and it's basically the worst sushi I've ever had. So disappointed
(1)
Rich K.
When in West County and hungry for sushi we ALWAYS stop here. Always have fast and friendly service and the atmosphere is very great. Their sushi always tastes fresh and the rolls are flavorful. The 'Crab Rangoon' appetizer is a twist on the traditional rangoons of Asian restaurants. Sake is good here as well. Always a good experience.
(5)
In Stl ..
I love this place. It's so delicious. The servers are always professional. The restaurant has a good atmosphere, and clean. I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. In my opinion I think it's the best sushi in the St. Louis area.
(5)
Annette J.
I love love this Restrautant for years but I do NOT like new menu. No Futjiyama roll -so sad. Teriyaki stir fry gone- boohoo. I am not sure why they are messing with a good thing. It was great just how it was. Please bring old menu back.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Trendy Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes
Jans V.
The food is outstanding. The menu has plenty of choices however, they always have some specials that you can ask about. The staff has always been extremely helpful and friendly.
(5)HeiYoung P.
This place is the best sushi for St Louis area!!!! I've been told and agree that I'm very critical and a sushi snob
(5)Ryan S.
Nippon Tei is a great find if you happen to be in the Ballwin/Manchester area and love sushi. Modern and slightly upscale feel. These folks know sushi...including the stranger (more hardcore) stuff! To put an extra exclamation on that, they are enthusiastic about it. The staff is very knowledgeable and personable. They will happily assist you with menu and drink (saki!) selections - if you have ANY questions, ask...and take their advice. The food is crave-able. End of story. Must visit. Service: 30 / 30 Decor: 25 / 30 Food: 27 / 30
(5)Pete H.
Nice place, but sushi was nothing spectacular. The rolls were entirely too big, I love getting my money's worth, but you eat sushi in one bite. This is nearly impossible with these size rolls. They also fall apart easily. The sushi (rice and fish) was slimy and fishy tasting. Prices were okay, $27 for 2 Plain Jane rolls and 2 pieces of Salmon Sushi and a drink, tip included. I know good sushi when I taste it, take my word for it, I lived in Tokyo, Japan the last 2.5 years. I would say it's on par for St. Louis, but I have had much better stuff stateside in San Diego, prices were a lot higher though. All around not bad sushi, just the same stuff every other place has here. Service was good, not great, it was a little busy and a Friday night. Nice place for big groups to share a lot of different stuff.
(3)Jim W.
Loved the sushi here. Always fresh and the service is great too. We live nearby and when we have a yearning for sushi, it's the place to go.
(4)Tammy M.
Love this place! You can relax in the lounge bar area, or dine at the table side. The sushi is always fresh. I recommend the octopus salad spicy tuna and caterpillar roll.
(5)Margaret F.
Delicious. Great service. Love the miso soup and pad Thai, light and full of flavor. Egg rolls are crispy and delicious.
(5)Scott T.
Best Sushi in St. Louis hands down and an awesome/romantic atmosphere...I've been to all the big names (several times). Service last night was excellent, we brought our 8 month old baby and they were very accommodating & attentive. I have been to Nippon Tei 5 or 6 times and I think it's gotten even better recently. Seriously, if you are a sushi lover...You have got to check this place out. Plus, for a date night....It's going to work out nice for you! lol
(5)Charles C.
I wouldn't say that I'm picky or snobby about the sushi that I eat, I just know good sushi period. Don't get me wrong about the 3 stars, Nippon tei is a solid restaurant and the sushi is good, but it's just not outstanding. St. Louis has so much amazing food, but sushi is not one of them. I will say that for a Midwest sushi restaurant, this place holds it's own. But if you've ever had fresh toro in San Diego, you're not stopping here for an average spicy tuna roll.
(3)Wendy K.
Best Sushi in St. Louis hands down. Favorites are the Alaskan Roll, Baked Manchester, Spider and I think the Sumo. Actually I have never had a bad roll or bad service. I love this restaurant. I am a huge Sushi fan and frequent them all in St. Louis, Nippon Tei is my favorite. Nobu is good, but still doesn't compare. For those of you wanting authentic, you are in the wrong town and dont write a review. The bar area is great for a strip center sushi restaurant in West County and I fully recommend.
(5)Mariya N.
Let's just say for Saint Louis sushi it might be ok but what a horrible staff, I mean just rude and very ignorant. The server had a nerve to ask us to tip him after he ignored us and didn't even bring us water for over 20 minutes. We set at the bar and order from a sushi chef behind a bar so of course we left her a tip and got yelled at by a server . The sushi got so small you can barely taste the fish. The spicy tuna roll doesn't even taste like tuna it tastes more like tempura crumbs with a tuna flavor. The roll is rolled with so much rice it's actually very hard to eat. I would never go eat there and wouldn't recommend it for anyone who knows what good sushi should taste like.!!!!
(1)Farooha M.
I very much enjoyed this place. Nice quiet kind of dark atmosphere. We went on a Saturday night around 6 pm. We got the veggie tempura , crab Rangoon and four rolls of sushi. The black magic dragon , Alaskan , spicy crab roll and the shakira. All of them were pretty good. But the spicy crab roll was my favorite. I really like the Alaskan also , but it had this sweet sauce on the top I didn't like. The veggie tempura was awesome. I LOVED the crab Rangoon. Super crispy , nice dipping sauce. 4 people with a bill of 70 for all that so not bad. I would come back again
(4)Son V.
We ordered white dragon roll, which is spicy tuna roll with fish on top. The roll is ok, just like other americanized sushi rolls! price is similar to other sushi places in st. louis. We also ordered the tonkatsu with rice! the dish is ok but not that great! We ordered a pad thai, which is expensive and not good at all! i dont think i would come back because overall, the food is average but kinda pricey!
(3)Marci E.
My new favorite sushi. Had the tuna tartare with ginger and I couldn't believe how delicious such a simple dish could be.enjoyed several of the rolls -fish much higher quality than nearby places. The stirfried rice was outstanding too and I couldn't place the delicious flavor. Miso soup was also good and not over salted like many. Service was fine for takeout and early dinner.
(5)Christy A.
I love the ambiance here. It may seem a little dark to some but it's just the right "dim" for me. It's located in the plaza next to Hot Shots. The sushi is delicious; a bit slow at times but delicious. The bar seating is super tight so I'd suggest choking a table unless you're solo. There's also a private dining area for groups and privacy. l
(4)Chris Z.
This used to be one of my favorite spots, but I am not as enamored as before. The rolls are still ok, the space is still nice, but I think the quality has dropped a bit. The no longer have their signature Baked Manchester roll, but instead suggest the baked clams. I didn't want to order them so the waitress (I think Katie?) was nice enough to bring me a complementary order. Holy, they are good... and really similar to what I remember about the baked Manchester. They also used to carry flash fried spinach, but now have fried gailan... which I think are the leaves from a broccoli plant... it wasn't nearly as good. We ordered the Shakira, White Dragon, and Dynamite rolls. The wife thought the dynamite roll was too spicy so I finished that one. The dragon roll seemed to be the best, with flavorful tuna and eel. Our server was great. Very attentive, and apologetic about not having some of our favorites, but came back with great recommendations.
(4)Matt O.
It's pretty simple.. Excellent food, HORRIBLE service. I have been here about five times since I discovered it. There is one server in particular that they should get rid of without question. She's middle age with glasses. Stay clear of her! She has a horrible attitude and blames the customer for their errors. It took 45 minutes to get three rolls that weren't even made correctly. Then she brings out another roll that we did not order and insisted we ordered it. We asked for one roll to be made with soy paper instead of rice. She came back 30 minutes later to tell us that they don't make rolls that way. Actually, the do sweetheart. I've ordered it that way MANY times. I could go on and on about her attitude and errors she has made but you get the point. If they get rid of her and the attitude and accuracy of the service improves, I would love to go back. Note: don't order the "side" of broccoli. It's four little pieces and costs $5
(1)Susan H.
The service can be slow sometimes but the food is worth it. The potion sizes are great. Three rolls, app and miso soup are filling for 4 to 5 people. They have some fun mixed drinks.
(4)Yoshi K.
Restaurant is in an older strip mall located right near Hot Shots Sports Bar...great looking menu !! Sushi Chefs are amazing. Lots of fresh and creative choices from the drinks to the food. The Restaurant manager is very nice and accommodating to requests. We went there with a large group and they did a great job keeping up with all of our orders and special requests. Can't wait to go back and try some of their menu items. BTW we requested the Chef's special that night, where you set the price point and let the Sushi Chefs go at it and do their magic. We were not disappointed. Can't wait to return.
(5)Lori P.
This is my second visit to Nippon Tei, and both were very good. My guests and I ordered the spider roll, St. Louis Roll and Philadelphia Roll...all of which were excellent. Some of the best sushi I've experienced east of the Rockies. I gave this place four stars instead of five because the service was unimpressive, and we were there late - about 9 PM - so it's not like it was packed full of people and too busy. Our waiter wasn't very good at communicating. Had to get him to repeat himself a couple of times, and it took a bit of effort to flag him down with a question, even though the room was nearly empty. If the owners put some effort into instructing the waitstaff in excellent customer service skills, this place would be a definite five star location.
(4)Shawn F.
Great Food. Horrible service. Many mistakes. Dishes going back and it took over an hour to get it right. One lady in particular was very rude. She tried to blame us when it was clearly marked on the sushi paper. I've had her service before and she is always mean and condescending. The restaurant needs to get a better staff to match the quality of their food. Will not return until then.
(2)Angie A.
Amazing sushi! The Alaskan Rolls are a must! Tonight was our first time trying this place and we were very impressed by the quality and cost of food as well as the service. The atmosphere is romantic too! We will definitely be back!
(5)Sheryl K.
Came here on a Friday night at the busiest dinner hour and got seated right away. I chose to sit at the bar because I usually like to converse with the chefs. To my surprise there was a lady behind the counter who was pretty friendly. Sushi selection was nothing to rave about although the prices were surprisingly the best I've seen. $6.95 for a special roll? I'll take it! My server was attentive and got my dishes out of the way (cuz I'm a fatty like that), and also never left my hot cup of tea empty. Love it when that happens! I guess what upset me was the price for their seared tuna. Uhm $25????? What a joke! When I inquired about it, they said it was their dinner portion. I had to restrain myself from laughing because I chomped that down in seconds... Yes it was good, but not $25 good. I'll try their dining entrees next time.
(3)Jason B.
Very good sushi - fresh tasting and large pieces. The only reason I am not giving them five stars is their selection of rolls was not that impressive/creative. But I would strongly recommend this restaurant to anyone that enjoys sushi.
(4)Stewart P.
Christine had me worried given all the other reviews but my personal experience last night was mixed. We had a group of 8 here for a birthday and overall, we enjoyed our experience but that is certainly more because of the people. The food I found was pretty good on my initial visit here starting off with salmon dumplings and pot stickers, everyone enjoyed them. The rolls we all ordered were all eaten to the last piece and I had the most interesting one, the Baked Manchester roll. It comes out looking like a baked potato so it took me awhile to figure out there actually was a cut up roll underneath the toppings. This was a pretty good dish. Where they really failed was the service, not very good at all. Apps came out without any napkins or chopsticks and it took a few minutes to get those. Two salads and extra water requested never came and dirty dishes sat there, even given several chances to clear them and even after business had settled down. They were still on the table when we left and we were in a spot in the lounge the waiter had to constantly go by. Also, I ended up sitting right under the TV so of course that was very annoying, but not only to me, and mixed with the dance music overhead, uggh. Why is it that every Asian restaurant has to have a TV in it and this one ruined what could have been a pretty nice lounge experience. Might I try this place again? Probably not unless someone really wants to go.
(3)Christine D.
One of our favorite sushi restaurants in STL. We went back to STL after 2 year hiatus and this restaurant was on our list. Sushi is always fabulous. Service is a bit slow and needs to be improved. Don't come here on a Friday or Saturday night if you don't have enough time to make an evening out of dinner.
(4)Tonya V.
We went to this restaurant tonight with a group to celebrate a special occasion. After ordering our drinks, it took 45 minutes for them to arrive at our table; appetizers took an hour; and the two sushi rolls that I ordered, along with everyone else's food took an hour and a half. The food was fairly good; however, the service was mediocre at best. The server was not able to make good recommendations to guests that had allergies and specific food restrictions. I was never asked if I wanted a second drink. And although the menu stated that an 18% gratuity would be charged to large groups, when we received our checks a 20% gratuity was added. After addressing this with our server she tried to justify it saying that they charged extra gratuity for groups our size. I spent many years working in the service industry, & I could not believe that a server that delivered service the caliber that she did would even consider increasing the auto gratuity amount on a large group without saying something about it. I reduced my tip amount to the 18 percent stated on the menu, but really it probably should have only been between 12 or 15 (and that is being courteous and from a service industry alumna). My personal opinion is that there is much better Japanese food and service in the st. Louis area and I will not be going back to this restaurant.
(2)Becca G.
Absolutely the best sushi in St. Louis!! My boyfriend and I have tried a good amount of sushi restaurants and now refuse to go anywhere except Nippon Tei because nowhere else comes close. They have amazing rolls, great prices and huge portions that make you wonder how they can do it, but it's exactly why I keep going back. We LOVE LOVE their white dragon, spicy scallop, spicy tuna, shakira (warm roll with ell, spicy tuna, roe and avocado), octopus salad and seaweed salad! I could easily eat here every single day. I really recommend trying at least one of my favorite rolls b/c you have to be crazy to not love them too!! The white dragon roll and spicy scollap roll are ridiculously delicious. Nippon Tei's food is AMAZING!!!! Just writing this review and adding pics makes me want to go sooooo bad...if only I lived closer!
(5)Rachel D.
AAAaaamazing sushi!!!! Always FRESH fish and rice. If you truly LOVE sushi, you know why that's a must. If you LOVE palate-tasting sushi, don't bother going anywhere else, unless it's Wasab, in Town & Country. Long drive, short drive, it's absolutely worth your trip and $. I'd absolutely consider myself a regular at Nippon Tei, and kick myself for letting my friends drag me anywhere else!! All I've had is the octopus salad, miso soup, nigiri and specialty rolls, oh, and SAKE!:) They have the best spicy tuna roll and yellowtail roll!!! MMM!! I love a good Phili roll, and they actually class it up with fried cream cheese!! Very nice! Ikura is the best quality of freshness I've had. I like simplicity and tasting the fish, so I've only had a few specialty rolls here and there. No complaints whatsoever. I've been going here consistently for three years and have never had a bad experience. They stay busy, but service and staff take care of you. Sometimes overly friendly and sometimes it's all business, more so when busy. But in all honesty, the sushi is such great quality, I'd serve myself if I had to.
(5)Robin C.
Had the White Dragon Roll and the Shakira Roll and both were quite delicious. Will definitely come here again very soon!
(5)Tasha K.
MY ABSOLUTE, HANDS-DOWN, FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN THE ENTIRE WORLD. BEST SUSHI EVER, EVER. How are there only 16 reviews on this place?! EVERYONE I ever take here fall in love. I grew up in St. Louis and this restaurant has been a staple in my life for years, and even now after moving North & traveling a lot. Every time I come home to visit, I ALWAYS make at least one visit to this restaurant. I have to. It's the best for so many reasons. The fish here is so fresh; the rice is perfectly seasoned with the right texture. You may not be a connoisseur but you can tell. Immediately. Non-sushi people change their opinion about sushi once they try GREAT sushi here. Everything is good. If you have to ask for my favorites: 1st and foremost, you have to get the SPICY TUNA ROLL. Yes, I know. Spicy tuna, woo hoo. Doesn't' sound special right? You couldn't be more wrong. They take the freshest red tuna and blend/mix it w/ the most perfect combinations of green onion, tempura flakes, and probably other fantastic things I can't make out but the roll will just melt in your mouth while your stomach screams with satisfaction. My second fav is the spicy crab roll (or get it as a hand roll). For appetizers, you must get the CRAB RANGOON. It's not your typical Chinese pocket of deep-fried goodness--- somehow they took something already yummy and found a way to actually improve it! They come out looking like eggrolls filled with the yummy, crab-infused cheese that come with a perfect match of sweet and slightly spicy sauce. A must. Also, go for the HOUSE SALAD. The presentation is beautiful and they make their own miso dressing that is to die for. So fresh and light. People always see me eating it and ask what it is. Do it. Oh this is getting long but there is so much to say! Other yums are the flash fried spinach app (the leaves melt in your mouth. literally!); the peppercorn sea bass, the yellow curry anything (any meat/seafood you like), and the scallop dishes. This is a family owned business, owned by a woman who can be summed up as a truly beautiful person. She treats you like family, she treats all of her employees as family (and a lot of them are), and in turn, the entire restaurant becomes your family. There are many regulars. Once you go, you can easily see why. This restaurant is a great destination for everything: dates, family dinners, girlfriend get-togethers, business lunches, all of it. The decor is tasteful and surprising given it's strip mall location. Do not let this facade fool you. You are in for a treat. Come as you are. The atmosphere is as casual as you want to make it or as formal as you want to get. Go now. Have a Lychee martini for me since I'm far away and tell everyone I said hello. You won't be sorry. This is my favorite place to eat--- and I eat a lot. I think it will become yours too. :)
(5)Duncan M.
Rather close to my office so, and one of a few Sushi places around. I tend to rotate through them at this point. This one was my latest. I've never been there for dinner so I don't know what it's like at night, but during lunch, the place is always a bit empty, which is perfect if you just want to sit, have some lunch and not have to yell at the person across the table. The wait staff are a little slow time times, on more then on occasion I have received my food and not had chopsticks, but they are very nice about things and correct issues quickly. Sushi is really good, and it's priced nicely.
(4)Allison C.
Super great sushi, though the dinner entrees aren't as great as the sushi bar. The servers are very friendly!
(4)Anne J.
I stumbled onto Nippon Tei thanks to Yelp! when I was looking for some Japanese food (not sushi, sadly) that was close for lunch. Since my first visit, I've been there a couple more times. The first time, I got takeout and it took 15 minutes and was served hot and with a smile. It wasn't too busy at lunch time, but it seemed like everyone knew each other in there. The servers/chefs greeted almost every person by name. To me, that's an indicator of great service. Both times I got the same thing, so I'll get to that in one moment. The second visit, I met a friend here, also for a weekday lunch, and we dined inside. I didn't really get a chance to appreciate the atmosphere the first time, but it's quite nice. It's elegant without being pretentious and also feels warm. That's a hard combination to accomplish in my opinion. I had the vegetarian spring rolls which were delicious and filled with veggies rather than a lot of fillers. Because I don't like sushi, I'm always looking for places that I can go and have a successful meal with my friends who salivate over the fish rolls. I had the yakisoba which was terrific. I got it with chicken and it was a perfect ratio of chicken & veggies to noodles. It was satisfying, not at all greasy (as I've found some other places are) and they were able to spice it up for me. When asked for it spicy, they ask for a number from 1-5. I always get 3 and am satisfied with the spice level. The sauce is delectable, both sweet and savory. I will definitely be back!
(4)Tom L.
pretty bad sushi, and definitely not authentic. Not sure if any who works there has ever been to japan. The fish was pretty large portion, but did not taste fresh. I had an "already been chewed" edamame on my plate - unfortunately stuck it in my mouth before I looked at it. I guess they did not want to waste food and reserved some leftover edamame. Not sure if that is what made me sick to my stomach, probably not because my wife also felt sick to her stomach that night. Ask for fresh food and YMMV.
(1)John D.
I went back to this place after many years since I went, which was what my first review was based on, and even then it was foggy. I still remember this place well, and I enjoyed the service I got here. We didn't get any edemame, which was fine because of this good service. It was confusing near then end because we were waited on by about 3 different people. I was surprised they didn't get mixed up on what we had or if we had ordered! Our water was constantly being filled, even when it wasn't half-full yet. Very close attention to us, and their sushi still is amazing. At reasonable prices, Nippon Tei satisfies me!
(4)Robert S.
Love love love the lobster tail. Good service and fair atmosphere.
(3)Liz A.
This was fun! The bar is really cozy and dim and you sit on couches. It's relaxing and you can stay for a while and eat slowly... really laid back and it was actually pretty good! I was very pleasantly surprised. I will definitely be going back here. I forget the name of it, but they have a "special" roll with chili pepper and it was great! Very spicy but great... definitely worth a try.
(3)Christine F.
I have to say, I've been here twice, and the first time the sushi was pretty good, but this time it was AWFUL. Okay. I'm not a sushi snob by any means. Usually I can't even tell the difference. I love sushi - all sushi is good sushi! GET IN MAH BELLY! Sigh. I learned that is not actually the case. Went last night, service was prompt, but we were also the first party in the whole restaurant walking in at 5:00pm. The complimentary edamame was nice, but cold. I prefer my edamame nice and hot. The sushi was just terrible. The dynamite roll literally had PILES of chile pepper flakes or whatever that powder was on them, and even after scraping it off, they were so incredibly spicy to the point they weren't even good. The California rolls were bland and completely mushy. My squid nigiri tasted alright but like it had been sitting out. When it comes to sushi, I always finish my plate. But this is the first time in the history of EVER that it was so bad I didn't even bother finishing. The server did not ask how our food was, which was disappointing because I would have told him. I think he could tell something was wrong though by my less-than-impressed face. He was kind of jittery and nervous nearing the end. But no move to make sure we were happy with our meal or anything. I'm guessing by the huge mix of reviews on here that your experience at Nippon Tei is largely determined by who makes your sushi. I believe ours was made by a younger guy - tall, husky, dark longish curly hair, glasses. I want to say his name is Nicholas or something? Yeah....he needs to go back to sushi school. The dynamite roll, two orders of california rolls, a squid nigiri, a snapper nigiri, and one green tea = $40. When almost all of it is nasty? OUCH. The quality of this sushi put me off enough that I don't think I'll be back. EDITED TO ADD: Um, so I just did the math and I don't know how much the tea was, but according to their website the sushi should have only added up to $28.50. So unless that tea was like, $5, and the refill my dining partner got was not free, that order was not right. Or he really did spend $10 in tea. Either way, yeah, not going back. EDITED TO ADD AGAIN: So apparently my date ordered an Alaskan roll, and was too distracted by my awesomeness (ha!) to realize they never brought it out. So we were charged for something we never got. Lamesauceeee.
(1)Jenny P.
Despite it's great reviews by other Yelpers, I was not that blown away by Nippon Tei. My roommate and I were craving sushi and were recommended to come here by Yelp and a friend so we decided to give it a shot. First off, they get bonus points for serving FREE edemame as an appetizer. I usually pay $4 to $5 for it at other sushi restaurants. The mango sake drink I have was alright, but not worth the price I paid for it. On to the main event...SUSHI! We had the philly roll, tempura roll, tuna roll, and california roll. They were all yummy, but I would have to say I have had better. Actually, out of the hand-full of sushi restaurants I have tried, this was the worst sushi I have tried, but I cannot say the sushi was bad by any means. Don't get me wrong, it was still tasty. The other big thing was that the rolls were actually falling apart. I have never had this happen. Therefore, I can say that the presentation and the ability to get the sushi from the plate to my mouth without falling apart did make me unhappy. I am willing to come back to Nippon Tei, but I have to say I already have my other favorites. The prices were average compared to other sushi bars, so that won't really help them out either when it comes to bringing me back. We will see!
(3)Nikks F.
Love Nippon Tei! My boyfriend and I enjoy checking out numerous sushi restaurants through out the STL, with no doubt this place is always guaranteed to be excellent. We always miss the rush and get in towards the later portion of the evening based upon my work schedule and every time we receive exquisite service, usually by the same gentleman. Aha, the food!! yummmm I long for their crab rangoon, rolled up in wonton wrappers similar to how your typical egg roll looks. If you enjoy crab rangoon you'll melt. A frequent disappointment at several sushi restraints is the inadequate portion of fish they give you in the orders of shashimi. Not here!! On some occasions they dish out an unbelievable amount of large slices of their wide variety of fresh fish. On the weekends they serve live scallops which for those of you that enjoy various textures will gladly enjoy! They also provide a couple more select options on the weekends only, I can't think of them off of the top of my head but well worth the effort in asking if you do make it in. For the sushi rolls, a couple of our faves happen to be: Dynmaite, Shakria, White Dragon, Black Dragon, Spicy Tuna, Phile accompanied by several others
(5)Lindsay W.
Great place and in the county no less. The food and presentation was great. We sat at the bar so we had a front row seat. The two Sushi chef's were really cool and chatted with us as they made their sushi master pieces. My friend and I ate so much we thought we would pop from all the goodness!! The servings are good size and they have a traditional and an ala carte menu. It all amounts to lots and lots of tasty choices. Why 4 stars. Sadly my veggie tempura was a little bland. The veggies were fresh and the dipping sauce was tasty but the tempora batter. . . well aeh. . . not so good.
(4)James G.
I haven't been here in several years, so take my review with that in mind. We used to love this place, great Japanese/Sushi/Fusion. Service was a little slow but food was good. One really good waiter and if you got him even the service was good. We didn't stop going because of anything they did, they just got too popular. We live about a mile away and this was a nice local joint, when they asked if we had reservations it was time to find another. It's kinda like going to the block pub and getting snubbed because your not on the list like a posh nightclub. Great place, but if we are planning ahead enough for reservations, we're not eating in Manchester.
(4)Carol S.
Just had my first experience here and I'll come again.. The best thing I can say is the sushi is very heavy. If you are a fresh sushi lover and prefer blending the flavor of fish and its toppings over sauces that completely mask the flavor of the fish then this is not the place for you. The reason I gave 4 stars is because as much as I love creative fresh sushi fusions, which is what I prefer 90% of the time, I can also appreciate rich sauces and heavy creative rolls when done well. This was definitely done well! Delicious! Come with an appetite because the portions are big and again the sauces are extremely rich. As an example, even the basic Philadelphia roll had balls of tempura covered/fried cream cheese vs just cream cheese. Which btw, was delicious!
(4)Jason K.
Nippon Tei is one of the first sushi restaurants I ever experienced in St. Louis. I used to go basically every other weekend with a couple of my good buddies because the sushi was high quality. We started off with crab rangoon and mussels usually for appetizers. I would suggest both of these at this restaurant. If you want to experience one of the best spicy tuna rolls/hand rolls, I think Nippon Tei will give any St. Louis sushi restaurant a run for their money. This is definitely a popular choice here. If you are looking for good rolls I would recommend the Baked Manchester Roll (crab in it), Shakira roll is pretty good, Alaskan Roll is very good, White Dragon (eel), Fujiyama roll is extremely big but good as well. The portions are pretty big and I would try not to order too much because you may be overwhelmed. The atmosphere is a good place to bring a date because they dim the lights and it could be considered somewhat romantic. Their is also a section in the back that is pretty trendy with tables/couches and TVs around while you eat sushi. As for the service, they offer on the house edamame which is nice but overall I think it is fair. It is a good place to experience if you are a sushi eater! (other sushi suggestions would be Drunken Fish, Tani, I Love Mr. Sushi, and Miso)
(4)Raheel L.
Sushi, an Japanese delicacy is an artful dinning experience for some of us. Sure, you can find a sushi restaurants almost every where these days, but are they any good? When it comes to sushi, I think the authenticity's of the products and the producers is a key. Sure, you can walk into a sushi place, and find a Mexican making your sushi (not trying to sound racist or sexiest) sometime its really really good, others its just awful. So when it comes to Nippon Tei sushi, if i can describe in one word, I would say, it is 'phenomenal.' I've visited this place several times, every time, I've been satisfied with the products and the service. There is a huge diversity in the menu, giving you options to choice from. Prices, I think might be little high but you're paying for a great sushi. I've been to a lot of sushi places around St. Louis, and I've to say Nippon Tei ranks in my top 10 places for Sushi in St. Louis and in west county locations, ranks top 3 I can't speak how your experience here will be based on the others reviews for Nippon Tei, but as an sushiaholics, I think you will be satisfied once you visit and try it.
(4)Laura K.
Nestled in a strip mall among a gym, a sports bar, a Christian goods store, and a furniture store, I wouldn't have figured that Nippon Tei would be any good. Wow was I wrong. Nippon Tei offers a huge selection of sushi for (maybe a little bit high but still reasonable) a great price. The first time I went there, I sat on the restaurant side. Small, intimate tables placed closely together make it seem like a tiny cafe rather than a bustling restaurant. I didn't know though that there was an entire other side, which looks more like a club and is reminiscent of Sake, a favorite sushi place in Columbia, Mo. Either side is great depending on your mood, but I can almost guarantee that you wont get out of there for cheap. Save it for a special occasion.
(4)Chip K.
The sushi, taken in itself, would get Nippon Tei five stars. We used to go here quite a bit when we lived in the area, and have never had bad sushi. I'm partial to the spicy tuna and the dynamite rolls. There are two things, however, that have brought my review down. First of all, their "fusion" cuisine is for the most part sub-par. I have never had chicken fried rice or pad thai that was as bland as what I've had at Nippon Tei. Stick to the sushi menu. Secondly, I have had MANY bad experiences with their service. On one particular occasion, my wife and I waited for nearly forty-five minutes *after being seated* until the waiter even came to take drink orders. (My wife was too big of a sushi fan to leave, and I was too soft-spoken to complain.) On our most recent visit, the staff never brought out the complimentary edamame, was slow to refill drinks, and forgot one of the things our table ordered. I don't want to give the impression that their entire staff is incompetent. There are some waiters who do their job just fine. But there are several who we dread getting stuck with when we come. So, to conclude... come for the sushi. Be wary about the other food. And you might get stuck with bad service.
(4)Lesley S.
Bad service but the sushi is oooo sooo good!
(4)gabe u.
We have been going here for the last several years, and it still remains one of our favorite restaurants. In fact, when going out, we usually choose this place- even for non sushi eaters. The new Saki-Tapas bar is an added plus that we commonly enjoy. First off, the sushi is wonderful. I consider the Spicy Tuna to be the best in the city. My wife adores the specialty rolls as well. Secondly, the Japaneses-Thai fusion menu is wonderful. I don't think that there is anything fancy on the menu, but it always taste wonderful. They have done a lot with a strip mall style restaurant. the Ambiance is great, dim lights, trance music, and a very friendly staff. It is probably one of the most overlooked restaurants in the city. Its a great first date, meet the parents, anniversary, or engagement restaurants in West County.
(5)Laura S.
The sushi was DELICIOUS!! The only thing that was concerning was some of the service issues... We sat at the bar to wait for a table and it took the bartender roughly 3-5 minutes to ask us what we wanted to drink or give us a drink menu. She was not busy. Then we noticed a table being cleaned off after only about 5-10 minutes. We waited another ten minutes before the bartender said, "oh I'm sorry I forgot you were waiting for a table, you can head over now." We the ordered saki. I'm not super experienced in the saki dep't but when I do order cold saki, it's usually just a shot. She brought us a huge bottle! That ended up costing us $14. I just wish she would have provided us upfront info. that we were purchasing a whole bottle of saki. And she was also the bartender so it was a little awkward the whole time... But overall I'd def go there again if I was in that area!!!!
(3)Jon V.
My wife and I visited Nippon Tei for a nice dinner without the kids to ring in 2009. The restaurant is tucked into an unassuming location in a West County strip mall. Inside, though, the decor is pretty nice and fits the sushi / fusion theme. There is a good mix of sushi and more typical entrees (steak, tempura, etc.) as well as a bento box entree. The sushi was fresh and rolled nicely. On this visit I tried the Futomaki roll and it has become a favorite of mine. This vegetarian roll has egg, pickled radish, some other stuff, and a sweet sugary red paste that really surprised me and gave the whole roll a very distinct and pleasing taste. I highly recommend you try it out. We went fairly early on a Saturday (about 6pm) and the places was just about full when we left at 7:15pm. They just opened an attached lounge which was decked out with very comfortable booths, pillows, cool lighting, etc. If we didn't have to get back to the kids, I would have liked to see if it picked up later on. The waitstaff said it does pick up after 10pm or so. The drink menu at the restaurant was pretty extensive with some cool martinis, a good sake selection, plum wine, etc. They also served a complimentary bowl of edamame (boiled soybeans in the pod). I thought they were very stringy but now realize after a bit of internet research that I was supposed to squeeze the beans out of the pod and discard the pod. I''ll enjoy them next time, I suppose.
(4)S T.
Nice ambience. Very crowded. Portions are large, but the food is subpar. The sushi is ridiculously large and impossible to eat, and only ok in flavor. Would be a nice place for a roll and a drink but thats about it.
(3)Jan W.
Ranks one of the best in St. Louis for Atmosphere, Service, Food and Cleanliness! Our dining experiences have been outstanding for years! They added an intimate dining area and lounge a year or so ago with lower lounge table seating and dim lighting...the perfect get away for that special date! The Sumo Roll that Whitney creates is the best in town as well! The service we receive from both Brian and Mia is unbelievable. They also have terrific take out and catering! Give it a try!
(5)March H.
Best sushi I've ever had by far..I have been here several times. My favorites are the spicy tuna and spicy crab rolls! The rolls are so big its almost hard to chew! A great place to go if you enjoy sushi.
(5)Bob W.
Nippon Tei sets the standard for all other local Sushi bars with outstanding service and attention to detail that never changes. Always a pleasure to visit for lunch or dinner. Lemon grass mussels are a must and regardless of other choices from the the extensive menu, the presentation and quality of each dish will impress the most discriminating foodie.
(5)Jeff F.
This sushi and fusion place is currently my favorite place to get sushi in west county. It's next to Gold's Gym at Weidman and Manchester. It's a great place for a date, the lighting is low and the food presentation is colorful and artistic. My brother and I go there a lot and sit at the bar (sushi bar) and every time the chef has made something for us for free. When you go, you have to get the Spicy Tuna Roll. It is amazing; peerless in STL. Friday and Sat nights are really packed so either go early or late to avoid a very full dining room. Good eating!
(4)Emily K.
When one is in West County and needs sushi, one must go to Nippon Tei. I'm a true city girl but I have some friends that live out West, so when we meet up I always request sushi at Nippon Tei. If anyone is new to sushi, I recommend going here first. Their sushi rolls are very tasty, especially to a palette that might not care for "Oh my God, it's raw fish" sushi. While not the very best nigiri-style sushi I've ever had, the quality is always consistent and the fish is just about as fresh as you can get for St. Louis. Atmosphere is pleasant, they play good tunes, and the vibe is comfortable and elegant. Service is always efficient and friendly. So again, make sure to take your newbie-sushi friends here - I love love LOVE the Shakira roll, it's Tempura eel-sauce goodness that's probably nothing particularly authentic but is really freaking good!
(4)K H.
I love good sushi. This place started my love affair about 5 years ago. They do Spicy Tuna different than most, but I cannot get enough. The have very fresh fish and very friendly staff. Yes, sushi can be slow at times when the place is busy. But they really do their best. Also on list-Alaskan roll although I don't like this one for take out. It doesnt hold up as well as some of the others. Great sashimi, sake, appetizers, etc. I suggest the flash fried spinach-its fantastic. Also-crab rangoon will blow your mind. I actually get upset when in San Fran and I cant get a decent spicy tuna roll for under 8 bucks, but I can get one for under $6 in St. Louis...
(5)Karen F.
I love this place. They have the best sushi I've found in town. I've had no problems with the staff as others have posted but think the freshness and the quality of the fish is top-notch.
(5)Callie O.
I am a huge fan of sushi, and I always thought you had to live on the coast to get great sushi, but little did I know a SUSHI HEAVEN was tucked in a little shopping center in Manchester MO! This place took my breath away. Their sushi was fresh and they had a great menu with rolls that I had never tried before. They have one called the Fujiama Roll that is to die for! Also a stuffed crab roll that is amazing. It is a loungy feel and they have a great wine list as well. The sushi is very moderately priced, and did I say DELICIOUS! Great experience, great scene, great place for a night out!
(5)Jessi R.
Ok, so they have GREAT sushi. BUT the service was the worst I have ever had. AND they were not busy at all. AND when we asked to talk to the manager....wait for it....the waiter was the mananger! Several tables sat down and just never got waited on so they left. The table next to us sat and sat and sat and finally asked where their food was and apparently he lost their order and never put it in! He was so bad with us too and then had the audacity to add a 20% gratuity! I think not! I refused to pay the gratuity. It was a joke!
(1)Stephanie R.
Nippon Tei is delicious! I truly enjoy their sushi and cooked food entrees. I mostly go there for lunch, since it's close to my work, and they have great (and reasonable) lunch specials! The staff is always friendly and I enjoy their presentation - even on the simple things like hand cut vegetables in their salad. Definitely a place to visit!
(4)Joel W.
Awful experience at lunch today. They had plenty of cooks, waitstaff, busboys,... and were not very crowded,... but the service was extremely extremely slow - 2 hours for lunch. I watched plates of sushi/sashimi sit on the counter for 5-10 minutes before they were delivered to tables. Our order was one of those. By the time we got it, it had warmed almost to room temperature. We got there at 11:30,... there were only 2 other groups there before us. Our order was small and uncomplicated. We got the first part of our food (6 pieces of nigri sushi) about an hour later. We didn't get the rest of our food (2 rolls) until another half hour later. We finally paid and walked out nearly 2 hours after we arrived. We've had that lunch experience several times. I need to remember not to ever go there for lunch again.
(1)Jennifer B.
We love this restaurant....I have NEVER had better spicy tuna sushi!
(5)Nancy P.
nippontei-stl.com excellent white miso & flash-fried spinach with chili-lime & sweet & sour sauces... nippon tei offers both traditional and fusion done with finesse. this restaurant is a favorite of mine for lunch. the tempura shrimp & veggies are really good. they offer a nice variety of lunch items, and have a sushi bar as well. they have fab spider roll! the tonkatsu is lovely as well as the chicken yellow curry. bento box & shabu-shabu is available at dinner - the bento is excellent! i have not had their shabu-shabu. dinner items are excellent with larger portions. mango ice cream makes a perfect dessert. or green tea ice cream, if you prefer... you can do lunch for under or around $10 (price range is $6.95 - 9.95) - more for an evening meal. fusion decor - nice! attentive wait staff. this is a small, intimate restarant. they do have take-out available.
(5)Doug W.
I always start my sushi reviews with this: I grew up in Hawaii and have had the real deal hundreds of times. With that said, Nippon Tei is very good. I don't think you'd go wrong eating there. Nice dark atmosphere.
(4)April B.
This place has the best sushi I've had in the St. Louis area. The sushi rolls are huge so be prepared. I also had the teriyaki and it was very good, as is the miso soup. We got the shrimp tempura and the dipping sauce was lacking, as was the tom yum soup. Definitely get the sushi rolls here, they're worth it!
(4)Matt W.
This place has what is probably my favorite roll, the fujiyama roll. I highly recommend you give that a try. I've had a ton of other rolls from there over the last few years but I can't remember the names... which is the case for most sushi places I go to! They have a room wih tables set up, and another portion of the restaurant is more trendy with couches you can sit at while you enjoy your sushi. I highly recommend Nippon Tei.
(4)David H.
Sushi is very fresh and delicious. The only problem is they never have uni (sea urchin). Tonight I called to check and they had it. Drove 1/2 hour to get there and, guess what, no uni.
(3)Tim M.
Had several good meals here. Sushi has always been fresh or tasted fresh anyways. They are a bit slow but for the money this place is a favorite.
(4)Kelly B.
Great food at great prices but slow service that never refills your drink without a fight. I go here all the time but I never count on friendly or efficient service. The sushi makes the service worth it.
(4)Rob S.
Awesome. Prices are very affordable. Went with some friend and spent about $6.00 per sushi roll. Nice. Great atmosphere. Will definitely frequent again.
(5)Stacey S.
We are here for my daughters birthday. The food was fine, nothing amazing. I would not race back for a meal. We ordered spicy tuna roll, a Philly roll and a speciality roll for the night. Also got a shrimp tempura as an app. The shrimp was flavorless. Also the place seemed dark. I would have like a bit more lighting to be able to see my food
(3)Kaci G.
Soo good. Hits the spot. Great sushi; great entrees. Lobster roll comes in a sweet huge red wine glass with tempura. Sumo roll on point. Scallops entree is fire. Lounge area quite chill. Ready to relax in this nice vibe.
(5)Casie G.
My favorite sushi place in all of St. Louis! I am a regular here and everyone I have taken here has loved it as well! First off the owner Brian, such a sweet guy! very personable, funny, patient just everything that a great owner should be!Also if he makes your drinks you will fall in love! The prices are fantastic for what you get especially for lunch. for around $11 you get soup, salad, one roll and 3 pieces of nigiri. My favorite roll though is just the simple spicy tuna roll. So much flavor and I just can not get sick of it! Tempura roll is amazing as well because of how light the batter is! Drinks are fantastic too! my favorites include mango sake, midori margarita, and the raspberry mojito. Seriously try this place out it is so worth it!
(5)Lynn M.
This place has the best sushi in all of St. Louis. The only place close is Tani. The prices are reasonable. My favorite is the spicy tuna roll. What a deal for size! Their lunch special is fantastic too.
(5)Dave K.
Went there this weekend. Had been satisfied in the past. This time , the menu has been drastically shrunk. Service was ok, food was a huge disappointment. Place was half empty on a Sat. Night tells me things have gone down hill. We will not be heading back anytime soon
(1)Peter P.
Food was decent at best atmosphere was ok at best... After ownership change this place is going down hill and the service is lacking.... Tried spicy tuna pad Thai some other dishes but I would say that it's probably one of the worst places for sushi...
(2)Lukky O.
Used to be a regular. Was one of my favorite sushi places. They have changed their sushi menu, and it's basically the worst sushi I've ever had. So disappointed
(1)Rich K.
When in West County and hungry for sushi we ALWAYS stop here. Always have fast and friendly service and the atmosphere is very great. Their sushi always tastes fresh and the rolls are flavorful. The 'Crab Rangoon' appetizer is a twist on the traditional rangoons of Asian restaurants. Sake is good here as well. Always a good experience.
(5)In Stl ..
I love this place. It's so delicious. The servers are always professional. The restaurant has a good atmosphere, and clean. I wish I lived closer so I could go more often. In my opinion I think it's the best sushi in the St. Louis area.
(5)Annette J.
I love love this Restrautant for years but I do NOT like new menu. No Futjiyama roll -so sad. Teriyaki stir fry gone- boohoo. I am not sure why they are messing with a good thing. It was great just how it was. Please bring old menu back.
(3)