Undoubtedly one of KC's best restaurants. Noka had been on our radar for a little while and I wish we had gone even sooner. In short, everything we tried was great and there is clearly a high standard for the quality of the food and drinks here. Love the atmosphere as well. As for the drinks, we were both in the mood for mocktails and we both loved them! We both especially enjoyed the Coconut Water. The Shrimp Tempura was possibly the best sushi roll I've ever had. I loved the Tofu Tempura as well. I could go on and on but I really don't think you can go wrong here. We found so much on the menu to come back for. Also the service was fantastic and shoutout to our server Phoenix!

Wow. That's the word that comes to mind when I think of my experience at Noka. Once you walk in you are transported to what feels like a rustic modern oasis with nice candlelight and an open kitchen where you can look in and watch chefs at work. We were lucky enough to have Phoenix as our server and she was phenomenal! I was in the mood for a mocktail so I tried their Zen's Garden and it was refreshing and had a great mild flavor. The plates are made to be shareable so we ordered a few things to try! We had the Shrimp Tempura roll, poke rice cakes, night market chicken wings, and the tofu tempura. They were all very tasty but the shrimp tempura roll was my absolute favorite!! It had a nice savory/spicy sauce as a great compliment to it! Also, the chicken wings have an interesting sweetness to them that I believe is a bit of an acquired taste but the crunch makes you want more! I am already planning on what I want to try next time, this was the perfect date night spot.

I cannot find one negative thing to say about Noka. In a city with numerous dining options, it can be challenging to stand out but Noka does just that. Located in the Martini corner area of downtown, Noka is rustic yet elegant and lively but cozy. I'm not sure how they manage to achieve this but it could have something to do with the energetic staff and group seating (long community tables). The bar area looks inviting as well. Our group of five was celebrating a birthday and had a blast. There is a corkage fee if you bring your own wine. We ordered the California crunch roll, mushroom roll, Tartare lettuce wraps, General Tso chicken skewers, Tofu tempura, Miso cod, XO fried rice, Filipino salmon, Kung Pao brussels sprouts, and Togarashi spiced brownie. Yes, we ordered a lot but many of the rolls and starters are shareable sizes. Everything is a flavor bomb with an interesting spin on the original preparation you may be expecting. The standouts, in my opinion, were the lettuce wraps, tofu, and salmon. That tofu is still in my thoughts, as it was just special in every way! To top it off the chef and owner, Amante, visited our table and brought the birthday girl a martini treat! You have got to add this restaurant to your wish list!

Noka offers an unparalleled ambiance with thoughtfully designed interiors featuring raw wood, stones, and antique vases, creating a natural and inviting atmosphere. The family-style seating adds to the unique experience, with concrete tables adding to the beauty. We visited early and enjoyed the privacy, as we didn't have anyone seated next to us. Cocktails were a highlight, creatively presented and delicious. The dirty martini with wasabi olives stood out. However, while the truffle tuna roll impressed with its flavor, other dishes like the edamame toast were good but not exceptional. The sweet potato jewels were unique and tasty, but the Kung Pao Brussels sprouts lacked the wow factor. Though the overall experience and ambiance warrant a five-star rating, the food falls slightly short, making it more of a four-star experience. While I'd return for cocktails and perhaps an appetizer, the prices felt steep for the quality offered.

SO DELICIOUS, great ambiance, and leave room for dessert! The restaurant has a very modern feel to it with long tables which are great for accommodating larger groups. It was also very easy to walk in with a larger group. However, our group was not super happy with the staff - though helpful they forgot our orders a few times and weren't the most attentive. For the food we started with some appetizers - wings, truffle tuna roll and crab pasta. The crab pasta was definitely a stand out and really loved the sauce (though wish it maybe had a bit more spice). The truffle roll was also so great with the truffle flavor coming out very subtly. For the main, I ordered the Filipino salmon which was cooked to perfection! The sauce was so great and paired very well with the salmon. I also loved the side of Brussels sprouts which were so crispy and great source of veggies with your meal. The star of the show was the brownie in the desserts. It was so perfectly warm and gooey with great flavors coming from the sesame. The crème brûlée was also very very creamy and very fun to watch.

Shoutout to Mya for making our first visit unforgettable. She was attentive & friendly. After we paid, we decided to sit around a little longer. She constantly came by to check up on us. A very great server! Definitely will be back to see Mya. The restaurant is beautiful. I really like the ambiance and vibe. I felt like I was in another country instead of Kansas City. The only downside is that it is really dark. You will need a candle or phone flashlight to read the menu. The food is delicious. Complex and flavorful. The peppercorn fried chicken is my favorite. Perfectly fried with interesting mixed of spices. The duck is also my favorite. Beautiful presentation and perfectly cooked. Their version of macaroni and cheese is a must try. The dish brought out to us in error, and they complimented it. I am happy we got to try it. The only thing I did not like was the brussel sprout. Not sure if they made it quickly because they forgot we had order this side dish. But it was very saucy and salty. It is not a great dish to compliment our entree. I needed a bowl of rice or a piece of bread to tone down the saltiness. It was also on the house after we expressed that we did not like the dish. Highly recommend. 10/10

Gave Noka a try during restaurant week. Each course was unreal. The hidden gem is the mushroom rice entree... Came on a busier night, so service was a bit slower, but the food made up for it.

Remember Empire Room in Martini Corner? Well that's where this restaurant has taken over! The cuisine? Where Japanese food meets farmhouse. Noka means "farmer" in Japanese, a nod to the Chef's late father, who owned a farm. There are shelves in the restaurant made from wood that was on his father's farm. Food can be described as small plates, fresh seafood, elevated Asian flavors, elegant entrees. Here's what our group ordered: UNI NIGIRI*, POPCORN HAMACHI* (the combo that was not on my 2023 Bingo card, but totally works), MAGURONATTSU*, EDAMAME TOAST, WILD SALMON, DRY AGED DUCK BREAST, PRIME RIBEYE, LOCAL MUSHROOMS, CRAB CAMPANELLE*, KUNG PAO BRUSSELS SPROUTS*. Items with a * are my top recs. Seating options include the Chef's Counter, communal tables seating 20 people, and some smaller tables. I was there for a Girls Night Out during the launch weekend of their new Raw Bar Menu, but the vibe is also perfect for a date night! Our original reservation was at the Chef's Counter, but in a last minute change, we added one more person. We were told it would be no problem, but when we arrived, we found out we wouldn't be seated at the Chefs Counter anymore. Such a bummer, but it was nice the Chef made his rounds to talk to people and the food was really tasty.