Nippon Tei is a true gem in Saint Louis! The sushi is simply exquisite and the atmosphere is perfect for a night out. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, making the dining experience all the more enjoyable. I highly recommend giving Nippon Tei a try, you won't be disappointed. Five stars all around!
sally Pink
Loved those sashimi n sushi, a little expensive n small, but taste good, awesome food
Whitney in the City
Chef Nick Bognar is just WOW and Nippon Tei, his family’s original restaurant that is celebrating its 21 year anniversary this year, is no exception! Each bite and sip is a flavor explosion that makes this a MUST before they transition to Sado in 2023! Reservations are a must!MY FAVS: Nigiri, Chili Garlic Noodles, Tuna Tartare, Hamachi Crudo
Kirin Pax
Amazing food. Amazing staff. Amazing atmosphere. Not Amazing distance from me but worth it.Took my friends from out of state here and they were blown away.Also the cheesecake gets a special shout out. Good lord.
Etienne LaRoux
amazing Birthday dinner - will be back soon !
amanda rowley
Ordered today as a curbside order. Obviously inconvenient that they request you to use an app to order food to-go, mostly if you are “on the go” when trying to order like I was. The app “Tock” is very technical and makes you choose what country you live in etc.. just to make a food order. It’s very annoying and extremely detailed only to NOT Be detailed when it comes to your food order. I ordered two items, a Kani Maki sushi roll, yes it was $18 for 6 pieces of sushi, unbelievable, and crab Rangoon. I spent almost $40… because not only do they screw you on the price of the food, they then add a 20% gratuity on top even when your not eating inside.. I was super grateful when they offered to bring the food out to my car since I had two small children with me (like okay, I’ll deal with the gratuity price for that kind of service)… but once I get home, I see that I requested no fish eggs/masago on my sushi and that my roll is covered in fish eggs. I’m not going to load my kids back up to get another one… just overall a bad experience for what they are charging you. I tried to pick off the fish eggs that I could but three are still covered and inedible based on the fact I requested it to be without fish eggs.. sooo I paid $40 for three pieces of sushi and some crab Rangoon..
Bobby S.
Really deserve 5 stars for the best and freshest sushi in st Louis but your hostesses are killing you. Came for take out, forgot I had to go next door, and the Nippon tei hostesses walked by me several times because she was picking cups off tables. Go next door and I'm told my order must not be ready since it wasn't in the cooler. 10 min go by and I ask some else. She took a while to come back and so I asked hostess 1 again. She goes back and come up front and says it will be 10 more minutes. 5 seconds later someone walks up with my order and says it was ready the whole time. I'm so hungry I might eat the bag now.
Melissa M.
First time trying this place out and will definitely be coming back. Outside exterior does not reflect the beautiful aesthetic of the interior. From start to finish, everyone was attentive and very helpful when looking over the menu. Food recommendations had exceeded our exceptions! Rolls & Nigiri were fresh and well-balanced. We enjoyed the overall experience.
Madhura J.
I love this place so much ! I love the fresh fish they have and the sushi is delicious and very very flavorful. You can literally taste every separate component of the nigiri. The hamachi crudo in the yuzu jalapeño broth topped with roe was so amazing, I finished the broth with my soup spoon . The fluffy Japanese cheese cake is always a winner. Reservations highly recommended!
Lauren S.
Went here bday dinner with a group of 6 and they were very accommodating. The menu is extensive. The apps and rolls are very good. I like that the fried rice is served family style in a bowl to share. It also was well seasoned and not heavy. The rolls are large and I found out one is enough after having apps. It's smaller inside than expected so it feels a bit tight when sitting down with a group. Last but not least...you have to leave room to try their unique Japanese cheesecake!
Delicious! First time customer and will definitely return. Inside of restaurant is beautiful; staff very friendly and great at describing meals and recommending wines. Food was great -- crab rangoon, Brussel sprouts, salmon bowl, Alaska roll :)
Tim Rifenberg
Stop by earlier this evening, the food was very impressive ! Everything was delicious!!
Stacey T.
Always blown away by the food and service at Nippon Tei. We called ahead and were able to walk in on Thursday night at about six. Our server Andrew was a sake somellier! I've known a few before, but never a sake somellier! He helped us pick two delicious sakes and gave us a brief lesson on their flavor profiles. It was a busy night and like most restaurants, they were short-staffed. That being said, I never felt forgotten or unattended. It seems that the staff all understand the concept of teamwork. I have to have Seaweed salad at any given opportunity, so I started there. My husband started with the shishito peppers, and I tried a few, respected their quality, but it just wasn't for me. He ate the entire plate and absolutely loved it. We also had the gyoza, which was incredible and had a beautiful crispy lace topping that melted into the sauce. For entrees I ordered the chili garlic noodles with braised short rib, black garlic, and togarashi gremolata. Holy wow... The noodles were the star of the show and the leftovers were even better the next day. Husband had the nigiri omakase, a chefs tasting with five nigiri pieces, and he claimed each was better than the last. He also had the Hamachi collar- his personal favorite. Not pictured is the red dragon maki, but trust, it was gorgeous and my favorite roll of all time. Dessert had to be packed up to go; we were too full to even try more than a bite. 10/10 best experience in dining out this year.
Caitlin E.
This was the first time I've been back since high school, and it looks like Nippon Tei got a nice upgrade! We ordered miso soup, the brussel sprouts appetizer, and two rolls: avocado and vegetable. The miso soup was just ok, but the brussel sprouts? SO good. I would have come JUST for the brussel sprouts. The maki however, was a bit of a let down. The avocado roll was just okay, and when I tell you it was overpriced- it was straight up thievery. The vegetable rolls had apple in them, and I just wasn't a fan; I applaud the uniquity but I couldn't even finish it. Lastly, while the service was great, I feel like they checked on us way too much. Every time my partner and I were in the middle of a conversation, the server(s) would come over and interrupt. In general I liked the food we got, but I can't say I'll be back anytime soon mostly due to prices. They also don't open 'til 5pm which is a bummer. I'd really like to try the next door Ramen Tei at some point though.
Mara D.
Highly recommend! The food all tasted very fresh and flavorful! Staff was friendly. I just wish I could have eaten more when I was there. It would be fun to go with a group of 4 to be able to try more items on the menu!
Nippon Tei is a true gem in Saint Louis! The sushi is simply exquisite and the atmosphere is perfect for a night out. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable, making the dining experience all the more enjoyable. I highly recommend giving Nippon Tei a try, you won't be disappointed. Five stars all around!
Loved those sashimi n sushi, a little expensive n small, but taste good, awesome food
Chef Nick Bognar is just WOW and Nippon Tei, his family’s original restaurant that is celebrating its 21 year anniversary this year, is no exception! Each bite and sip is a flavor explosion that makes this a MUST before they transition to Sado in 2023! Reservations are a must!MY FAVS: Nigiri, Chili Garlic Noodles, Tuna Tartare, Hamachi Crudo
Amazing food. Amazing staff. Amazing atmosphere. Not Amazing distance from me but worth it.Took my friends from out of state here and they were blown away.Also the cheesecake gets a special shout out. Good lord.
amazing Birthday dinner - will be back soon !
Ordered today as a curbside order. Obviously inconvenient that they request you to use an app to order food to-go, mostly if you are “on the go” when trying to order like I was. The app “Tock” is very technical and makes you choose what country you live in etc.. just to make a food order. It’s very annoying and extremely detailed only to NOT Be detailed when it comes to your food order. I ordered two items, a Kani Maki sushi roll, yes it was $18 for 6 pieces of sushi, unbelievable, and crab Rangoon. I spent almost $40… because not only do they screw you on the price of the food, they then add a 20% gratuity on top even when your not eating inside.. I was super grateful when they offered to bring the food out to my car since I had two small children with me (like okay, I’ll deal with the gratuity price for that kind of service)… but once I get home, I see that I requested no fish eggs/masago on my sushi and that my roll is covered in fish eggs. I’m not going to load my kids back up to get another one… just overall a bad experience for what they are charging you. I tried to pick off the fish eggs that I could but three are still covered and inedible based on the fact I requested it to be without fish eggs.. sooo I paid $40 for three pieces of sushi and some crab Rangoon..
Really deserve 5 stars for the best and freshest sushi in st Louis but your hostesses are killing you. Came for take out, forgot I had to go next door, and the Nippon tei hostesses walked by me several times because she was picking cups off tables. Go next door and I'm told my order must not be ready since it wasn't in the cooler. 10 min go by and I ask some else. She took a while to come back and so I asked hostess 1 again. She goes back and come up front and says it will be 10 more minutes. 5 seconds later someone walks up with my order and says it was ready the whole time. I'm so hungry I might eat the bag now.
First time trying this place out and will definitely be coming back. Outside exterior does not reflect the beautiful aesthetic of the interior. From start to finish, everyone was attentive and very helpful when looking over the menu. Food recommendations had exceeded our exceptions! Rolls & Nigiri were fresh and well-balanced. We enjoyed the overall experience.
I love this place so much ! I love the fresh fish they have and the sushi is delicious and very very flavorful. You can literally taste every separate component of the nigiri. The hamachi crudo in the yuzu jalapeño broth topped with roe was so amazing, I finished the broth with my soup spoon . The fluffy Japanese cheese cake is always a winner. Reservations highly recommended!
Went here bday dinner with a group of 6 and they were very accommodating. The menu is extensive. The apps and rolls are very good. I like that the fried rice is served family style in a bowl to share. It also was well seasoned and not heavy. The rolls are large and I found out one is enough after having apps. It's smaller inside than expected so it feels a bit tight when sitting down with a group. Last but not least...you have to leave room to try their unique Japanese cheesecake!
Restaurantji Recommends
Delicious! First time customer and will definitely return. Inside of restaurant is beautiful; staff very friendly and great at describing meals and recommending wines. Food was great -- crab rangoon, Brussel sprouts, salmon bowl, Alaska roll :)
Stop by earlier this evening, the food was very impressive ! Everything was delicious!!
Always blown away by the food and service at Nippon Tei. We called ahead and were able to walk in on Thursday night at about six. Our server Andrew was a sake somellier! I've known a few before, but never a sake somellier! He helped us pick two delicious sakes and gave us a brief lesson on their flavor profiles. It was a busy night and like most restaurants, they were short-staffed. That being said, I never felt forgotten or unattended. It seems that the staff all understand the concept of teamwork. I have to have Seaweed salad at any given opportunity, so I started there. My husband started with the shishito peppers, and I tried a few, respected their quality, but it just wasn't for me. He ate the entire plate and absolutely loved it. We also had the gyoza, which was incredible and had a beautiful crispy lace topping that melted into the sauce. For entrees I ordered the chili garlic noodles with braised short rib, black garlic, and togarashi gremolata. Holy wow... The noodles were the star of the show and the leftovers were even better the next day. Husband had the nigiri omakase, a chefs tasting with five nigiri pieces, and he claimed each was better than the last. He also had the Hamachi collar- his personal favorite. Not pictured is the red dragon maki, but trust, it was gorgeous and my favorite roll of all time. Dessert had to be packed up to go; we were too full to even try more than a bite. 10/10 best experience in dining out this year.
This was the first time I've been back since high school, and it looks like Nippon Tei got a nice upgrade! We ordered miso soup, the brussel sprouts appetizer, and two rolls: avocado and vegetable. The miso soup was just ok, but the brussel sprouts? SO good. I would have come JUST for the brussel sprouts. The maki however, was a bit of a let down. The avocado roll was just okay, and when I tell you it was overpriced- it was straight up thievery. The vegetable rolls had apple in them, and I just wasn't a fan; I applaud the uniquity but I couldn't even finish it. Lastly, while the service was great, I feel like they checked on us way too much. Every time my partner and I were in the middle of a conversation, the server(s) would come over and interrupt. In general I liked the food we got, but I can't say I'll be back anytime soon mostly due to prices. They also don't open 'til 5pm which is a bummer. I'd really like to try the next door Ramen Tei at some point though.
Highly recommend! The food all tasted very fresh and flavorful! Staff was friendly. I just wish I could have eaten more when I was there. It would be fun to go with a group of 4 to be able to try more items on the menu!