Bob Wasabi Kitchen

I’ve been here a couple times now, and mothertrucker it’s GOOD! You wouldn’t think sushi like this is available in the Midwest; nor would you think it would taste like this… WROOOONG!!! Bob flies the fish in FRESH from the coasts (I’ve seen the boxes from Seattle outside), and that makes a world of difference. The fish is so clean, and tastes so good… it’s tough to describe it adequately.
Some specifics: The restaurant itself is tiny (similar to Mint in Lee’s Summit), so timing can be tricky to minimize wait times, but we’ve had great success with lunch here for our visits. There’s a great sushi bar where you can see the variety they have for proteins, and the color in the various types is amazing. You know you’re getting something good here.
For food, I’ve had different rolls, as has my wife, but they do bring a certain artistry to the presentation for all, which is appreciated. Every roll is made well, nothing sloppy, and the portions are fantastic! You’ll look at the menu and think «some of these are priced high»…until you get the food. Then you don’t think twice about it. The TNT roll is a staple for EVERY visit. «Party in your mouth» doesn’t do it justice… and the texture is insane. I won’t NOT order it… period. We’ve also had the Unagi Mango roll (amazing), my wife has tried a couple others (like the baked hamachi roll), and I had a simple spicy salmon roll just to see how they are on the basics… there’s honestly NOTHING bad to say here – not one bad roll or experience across the menu. Winner winner sushi dinner.
Service is generally on point as well… while you may wait awhile for the food to arrive, you can’t really complain when you see what they bring to your table… most good things take time and attention to detail, and this is no exception.
I’ve tried many different places in town (KC Sushi, Mint, Domo, etc.) and trust me when I say there is NO comparison… Bob has the goods, and is on another level. Make the trip and thank me later. Or make two trips… you will after trying it.

Great service and food. Ordered the rainbow and TNT rolls. Only complaint is the place was a lil stuffy inside and there was no parking cause the place was jammed packed.

This was fantastic. Everything was fresh, beautiful & tasted amazing. The service was friendly & helpful. Would highly recommend.

Quite excellent. Everything people say is true. Great service. Wonderful food. I know it costs a lot to provide the freshest fish but man the prices! $ 37 for one roll (large as it was), a very small miso soup, one beer, and a half order of egg roll (that would be one small roll) is just a lot of money. I question the true value of my meal. I have to ask myself, «was it really worth it?» Was it? I have to say no. Considering I ate a snack when I got home to fill up I’d say no.
Don’t get me wrong. It was very good. However, after much reflection I just can’t justify returning to this place. There is still very good sushi from local places (not corporate/​chains) in this town for a lot (I mean, A LOT) less money. It looks like the guy’s got a great following and I wish him all the success in the world. I’m not ignorant. I grew up eating sushi in California — not that that truly means anything — but seriously, one’s gotta draw the line somewhere.

Some of the best sushi I’ve ever had! This casual sushi place rivals my favorite Sushi Den of Denver. The TNT roll was my favorite. We ordered the Hawaiian roll with shrimp too. My husband ordered Nigiri and the fish pieces are huge! We love this place and I really wanted to get back a second time before leaving KC but our schedule didn’t allow us. I’m back in beautiful Winter Park, CO but still dreaming about the TNT roll. If I am ever back in KC I will get back to this wonderful little sushi restaurant. Thanks Unilocal for helping me find places like this! I don’t always leave 5 star reviews but this place is a gem and I’m still thinking about their sushi weeks later!!!

Sushi sampler was such a generous portion to start things off with a bang! Wait staff was amazing and checked on us, had plenty of knowledge and suggestions & we didn’t have to wait long for a thing. House cold sake hit the spot and the rolls are big portions! For a couple that can take down 4 rolls at a typical sushi joint, 2 rolls and the amazing sushi sampler (4 piece nigiri) was more than enough! Place was packed!

Before I begin, I do want to stress that this isn’t some «small town girls» review of «big city» sushi… I’ve had sushi in Cali, Colorado, Texas, New York, Phoenix, Vegas just to name a few.
When I found this 5 star sushi bar I was excited to the max. I mean, I had never seen a 5 star anything with 70+ reviews, so excited doesn’t even begin to cover it. We were seated as soon as we walked in and chose to sit front and center at the bar. My BF and I were sporting quite an appetite when we walked in so we decided to go with a couple of miso soups to start, a couple specialty rolls (dragon, rainbow & TNT roll) and a six piece sashimi chef’s special.
The up side: Our service was wonderful, downright excellent, from start to finish. The ladies were attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable about the menu. Another plus was that everything came out quickly and each plate was visually beautiful.
The downside: The flavors were meek, and when you consider how many ingredients were in each roll this was very surprising and disappointing. The sashimi cuts were jagged and thick, literally the thickest I’d ever seen. Not sure if they cut the slices so thick because they’re known for getting your money’s worth or what, but honestly, it made it really hard to eat. I had to cut the slices in half to get them down.
I was looking for out of this world, straight up fantastic sushi… and simple put that isn’t what my experience was like. It was good sushi, but it was not to die for sushi… 3 star may sound harsh but it was just that… A-​OK.

Bob wasabi kitchen has two truths and one false in it. It is a sushi place that specializes in raw fish. It is a pretty small space that makes you feel you’re in a real kitchen being passed samples of freshly made specialties. I looked for Bob! I whispered to the guy working the sushi bar «who’s Bob?». The Japanese chef standing nearby raised his hand with a friendly smile that told me I wasn’t the first person to ask and be surprised! Bob is a well seasoned chef that knows what he is doing yet very humble in his demeanor.
Atmosphere was friendly. The waitresses were very hospitable and knowledgeable. They were all over the place. Answered all of my questions (I had many).
The sushi was from another world. Very fresh. I am a sauce kind of person but to make sure the sauce wasn’t concealing the real taste, I didn’t use any sauce. It was very relaxing and ab awesome treat after a long day if work.
The prices are a bit higher than your average sushi bar.
I will certainly go there again and do recommend it.

Excellent sushi, some of the best I’ve had. Miso soup was about half the size of other Japanese restaurants we’ve been to, and we had to ask for extra ginger twice to have enough, but the amazing sushi made up for it!

Ah! If you haven’t been here, you’re missing out. While I was on my intense search for a solid sushi place (after moving here from St. Louis and Chicago –both have some really good sushi places if you know where to go) out here in KC, this was the one that stood out to me. It’s become a staple in my dining out rotation and I come here frequently. Bob is seriously the chilliest guy, hilarious and skilled as all hell. He can slice a fish faster than you can say «Bazinga!»
Okay, I don’t know if that’s actually true, but the food is phenomenal. I always get a mixture of sashimi/​nigiri and a few rolls when I come here. The miso soup isn’t anything to write home about, but I’m here for the fish, so that doesn’t matter too much to me.
While they don’t have as many rolls as some of those other places you’ve been to, each of them is worth it. I’ve had a fair number of the rolls including: TNT, Unagi Mango, Hawaiian, Baked Hamachi, Rainbow, etc. They’ve all been delicious, massive, and lusciously decked out with ingredients. If you like some flavorful rolls, try them!
Now, THE SUSHI PURISTS. Yeah, I’m lookin’ at you. Even if you don’t like just fancy raw fish by itself or on rice, you should try it here. So fresh, tasty and it just melts in your mouth. I always check to see what they recommend for the day and have yet to be disappointed. I remember my first order of Toro there, mmmmmm. I died and went to heaven.
P. S. If you’re feeling frisky and want a mid day drink, those sake bottles are some good choices and will get you feelin’ loosened up and ready to not be productive. Haha

My roommate and I came here on a Friday night for a splendid date and it blew our Midwestern minds. We went a little overboard and ordered the Poke appetizer, 25 sashimi piece, and the TNT roll. All of them were delicious and so fresh. The sashimi slices were ginormous; biggest I’ve ever been served in my life, no joke. We split the bill evenly and will still be eating ramen for the next month, but dear lawdy was it worth it. Fresh fish flown in everyday? Uh ya, take all my money. My picture of the sashimi platter does not give it justice for how beautiful it was in person ;(

Once I saw the reviews for Bob Wasabi’s I knew I had to go. It was a modest Tuesday night, still very packed but only a few minutes to wait. I was 1000% Satisfied with the food and service provided. Sushi may be the only food I will consistently go out for and drop $ 100 on dinner like it’s nothing.
At first I was worried about the price, as some of the specialty rolls are around $ 15 – 16 but they are TWICE the size of the rolls I get at places like Domo (Don’t get me wrong, Domo is still a favorite but Bob wasabi beats them outof in all aspects, freshness especially) We ordered a Soft shell crab roll, a TNT roll, a spicy salmon roll, a Philly roll w/​crab and smoke sake nigiri and tuna nigiri. MY boyfriend and I can usually smash that much sushi, but the portions are so big we had to get a box to take home. I highly recommend Bob Wasabi kitchen. I definitely will have to come back soon.

Hopping on the Bob’s bandwagon and riding it as far as it’ll take me!
At this point in my life, I heavily debated writing sushi love letters to Bob. Mostly to primarily show my true affections for his wonderful combinations and quality. I came in for a date night and thought, «Alright, here I am now blow me away.»
I went through the motions of waiting to be seated for roughly 15 – 20 on a late night Saturday, to grazing the menu, then asking for recommendations, (*insert patient waiting*), and eventually settling down our order. We kept it light since neither of us were starving but needed a teeny sushi fix. Simple miso soup, basic tuna roll, and the fancier TNT. Let me just say, if I could just have a wedding cake made of any of Bob’s rolls: I would. The specialty roll was perfection and I have no clue how it could ever be better!
Forgive me for making a Dr Who comparison, but it’s like that one episode where Amy is talking about Rory. How sometimes when you first meet someone, you think they’re just okay. But then their personality becomes them and suddenly they’re the most beautiful person you’ve ever met? That was Bob’s. At first it was like any other place, but when those rolls were consumed, I finally understood.
The quality and freshness are evident online in reviews and in person. Please just do yourself justice and GO!

Very glad Unilocal led us to this sushi place. We got there just in time to get a seat before it got really busy. The waitress was very friendly and knowledge about the menu. The three of us ordered two special rolls, two regular rolls and two orders of nigiri. Plenty for all of us and we walked away very happy. The portion size was much bigger than normal, taste was very fresh and prices were about average. My favorite roll was the unagi mango roll. Very unique and tasty.

Great service and good selections. Be prepared with a busy night, seats fill up fast as the dining area is small. Waitresses always greet you with a «Hello, how are you?» and were very attentive during the entire stay. Unfortunately they were out of uni, but I ordered the salmon roe nigiri with quail eggs, salmon nigiri, and a spicy salmon roll. The nigiri with any fresh fish are literally the size of a small child’s hand. The two pieces that were given could have easily been equivalent to four typical pieces. The cut of the fish seemed to be done sloppily, there were parts were the cut was uneven, and on one end, had a small piece of meat that was just barely hanging on. The fish was good quality, but not excellent.
We were seated right next to the cashier, and regrettably we heard of the waiters complain that Asian customers do not tip well. The person that accompanied me to dinner, including myself, are Asian.
It was a fun little place to try something new, but it seemed more of a «dine here once only» kind of place for me.

5 Star rating with 90+ reviews. Of course I had to give it a go.
Bob Wasabi (or rather, Bob Shin) is a darling sushi chef, and makes one hell of a roll. I don’t consider myself to be a sushi expert, more of a sushi enthusiast, but I can tell you that this was an outstanding meal.
A couple things to note:
1) Be prepared to wait. The restaurant has extremely limited seating, and given the hype, you should anticipate having to hold down the fort for 45 minutes or so. We went at 8:30 PM this past Saturday and weren’t seated until 9:15.
2) Ask the servers for recommendations. We got the Rainbow Roll and our server recommended pairing it with the Softshell Crab Roll, which ended up being our favorite. They have a good idea of what flavors complement each other well, so if you are uncertain, just ask!
3) Sit at the bar if available! Watching Bob work his magic is entertaining, plus you can see how fresh their ingredients truly are. They are constantly replenishing their stock with new fish, sourced from all over the world.
I am already looking forward to going back.

I agree, this place is great. Call me a bandwagon fan if you must but I am on board with anything Bob Wasabi!
We were in a bit of a hurry and hungry for sushi, a recipe for disappointment and being late but Bob’s was speedy yet fresh and tasty. We ordered four different rolls for the two of us. We quickly realized by watching the rolls come out around us that we might have over ordered. The rolls come as eight large pieces. Almost to the point that they are bit more than bite sized. All of our rolls were as advertised and delicious. So good we ate it all and were stuffed. Our service was excellent and they make you feel like a regular even though this was our first time in. She also was very accommodating to our rushed time line.
Highly recommend Bob’s and we will be back again, hopefully with more time to enjoy our meal more instead of rushing out the door :)

Great sushi! We came here on a busy Saturday night after reading the stellar Unilocal reviews. We chose to sit at the sushi bar instead of waiting for a table — and I’m glad we did as it was awesome seeing the sushi get made and chatting with Bob who is a delight.
We ordered the sashimi platter (6 pieces of sashimi, rice, & miso soup), the rainbow roll, & spicy tuna roll.
The sashimi was amazing — it felt so fresh that it melted in my mouth. My favorite piece was the salmon, followed by the yellowtail.
The sushi was yummy too. We ordered the rainbow roll with real lump crab instead of the stick (highly recommend this!) and it was really good. The pieces were just slightly large. The spicy tuna was great — it was actually really spicy which was nice — full of flavor! the sauce was not overpowering or too much compared to the fish. The roll was also perfectly sized but still included plenty of tuna.
I definitely recommend this place and will return. Just be prepared to wait a bit and for slower service at peak times now that the secret is out about Bob Wasabi.

The hype is real!
This cozy little joint on 39^th St. is home to potentially the best sushi in the city. For real. The sushi chef has decades of experience, including in Maui, and it really shows.
I’m not a sushi expert by any stretch, so allow me to break down my approach a bit. First time in a sushi restaurant, I always try out a more basic roll like a Spicy Tuna or California Roll. This allows me to taste everything a bit easier than the loaded up rolls and set a baseline. (Side note: I love loaded up rolls, fried rolls and everything in between).
The Spicy Tuna here may have been the best I’ve had anywhere. There was a perfect amount of actual tuna, without any skimping whatsoever. The spicy aioli style sauce was delicious, and this is a roll I would come back for.
The California roll with lump crab was very good as well but it didn’t have quite as much flavor and overall pop as the Spicy Tuna. However it was refreshing to see a ton of real crab in there, and not that waxy white/​red imitation crab that I grew up on.
To top off the great food, the staff was unbelievably friendly and helpful.
So by now you’ve noticed all the 5-​star reviews, heard about Bob Wasabi, and breezed through the photos… the next step is to go check this little spot out!

Real sushi dining has finally arrived in Kansas City! This is a small family owned sushi restaurant in the Volker neighborhood. Do not be confused by the location because this place packs a powerful punch in all departments, from the freshness of the product to the professionalism of the front of house service!
A quick back story about Bob and his family: Bob actually owned a fish butchery stall in the old Fulton Fish Market in NYC! Therefore, this man knows his fresh fish! The family owned & consulted for sushi restaurants across the contiguous United States until they somewhat recently moved to Maui. Maui, what an amazing place to get even more experience in the making of fine quality sushi as well as the freshness of fish and seafood products! To sum that up, Bob and his family know fresh product!
After moving from Maui, Bob and his family came to Kansas City and ‘we the people of KC’ are SO lucky that they decided to open a restaurant. I have not eaten sushi of this quality since I lived in San Francisco or have dined in some of the finer sushi spots in NYC! Bob, his wife, and his daughters really know what they are doing!
Yes, it is a bit expensive, but you 100% get the quality for which you are paying for. There is not a bad item on the menu; I have been here twice and everything that I ordered was a ⁵⁄₅ in taste & the service matched the food!
If you are a true sushi lover and are interested in sea urchin roe, toro, Ikura, & the like; then you will be delighted to know that all of these specialty items are delivered at least one time a week. I almost fell out of my chair at the sushi bar when I heard that they got a fresh delivery of Santa Barbara sea urchin roe in at the minimum weekly… this means I can once again eat sea urchin in KC!
Please, let’s help keep a real actual fresh quality sushi restaurant here in Kansas City, so we are not stuck with only having options like the not fresh and poorly made hipster sushi, i.e. Nara & that place on the Plaza?;) On the sushi scale Nara would be a 1.5÷5 while Bob’s is easily a ⁵⁄₅. FYI, the two people that I dined here with (who are or not Unilocalers, but are foodies) told me they had experiences that were both a 5 out of 5 and that they would give them a 6 out of 5 if it were possible;)!
I cannot wait to dine here at least once a week! Keep
up the amazing work Bob’s; and, you will thrive in this town that has been dying for a really quality sushi place for a very long time (probably since Jun sold his place back in the early 2000s). Last thing, they are still
waiting on their liquor license, but, Esther and her sister are hoping to recover it within a month or two at most! Then Bob’s will have booze… which could be trouble for some of us real sushi lovers:)!