Momiji Redmond — Restaurant in Redmond

Almost 5 stars (which I often give) but there were several issues with this restaurant that just cumulatively irked me enough that I had to share a review and dock a star.

Food was overall delicious but given that much of their menu contains sushi and that this place even offers omakase, the last thing I expected was a bone fragment in the sashimi of my chirashi bowl. And not like a pin bone, but a small chunk of vertebrae. My wife said I should mention it to the waiter, but we came with our toddler and I was not in the mood to spend the mental bandwidth to bring it up. FWIW, all the food had a beautiful presentation and the seafood tasted very fresh, but finding that singular bone fragment in my sashimi isn't something I've encountered... Ever.

Service was phenomenal, except that it took longer to be rung out after asking for the check than it did getting seated without reservations. Waited 10+min for waiter to return so that we could pay the bill (after we had already waited and asked for the check). Again, ordinarily may not have been an issue, but with toddler in tow it was an unnecessarily long wait. In all other facets, our waiter was a gem and attentive.

Ambience was okay but left a lot to be desired, IMHO. The acoustic deadening in the restaurant is minimal and difficult to converse without raising voices (considered the norm for true izakayas, but this place is not designed as such). I really didn't understand the decor/interior design. Absolutely nothing reminded me of or felt inspired by Japanese culture/cuisine. The large tree in the center of the restaurant appeared to be an olive tree - giving off Mediterranean vibes. The soy sauce serving vessel on the table also looked like a balsamic vinegar dispenser (functionally great, but aesthetically pulled away from the dining experience). There were fake tropical plants strewn about, and even the lighting/sconces felt randomly "influencer"/"Instagram" inspired with no connection between various lighting sources or to Asian, let alone Japanese cuisine. I even asked my wife if the restaurant was a fusion restaurant, even though the menu didn't read as such. If I was sat down without knowing anything about the restaurant I would be led to believe it was an upscale...

The first thing that strikes you is that place is somewhat upscale. The ambience is great - very few other places in Redmond downtown will have such an amazing vibe.

The places is located at the heart of Redmond downtown. If you have access to light rail, I would recommend just coming by light rail. That's the easiest. It is on the side of downtown Redmond station. Otherwise finding parking is not bad. But the best thing to know will be that you have parking acces for Momoji - you just need to specify your license number at the reception and you can pretty much park in the building.

I tried Spicy Tuna Sushil Roll. It was average. I was not impressed. It was like it was taken out of a fridge and served cold.

On the other hand Yakisoba Noodles were amazing. Such a great blend of flavours. The chicken pieces had amazing sauce cover. And some of the things in the noodles went super well - such as red garlic strips.

The only feedback will be to not include items on their menu that they don't care about making fresh. The roll was a disappoint - even more so because it was like cold cold - not even at room temperature. I am sure there are othe sushi rolls on their menu which would be better.

Otherwise great service...

The food here is outstanding. Portions are generous, and you can tell the ingredients are fresh and carefully chosen. Every dish we tried felt well thought out and balanced—flavorful, artfully presented, and satisfying. The sushi was a highlight, with melt-in-your-mouth freshness and beautiful presentation. The appetizers were equally delicious and paired perfectly with drinks.

Their happy hour (I believe from 4 to 6) is definitely worth planning around. The variety of sushi rolls and appetizers on the happy hour menu make it a great way to sample different flavors without breaking the bank. It’s the kind of place where you can come for a quick bite and a drink after work, or settle in for a full meal and leave feeling like you had something special.

Overall, Momiji Redmond is a gem. Excellent food, thoughtful service, and a beautiful setting all come together to create a memorable experience. We will definitely be back soon—this is the kind of restaurant you’ll want to return to...