Namo Izakaya Ramen & Yakitori — Restaurant in Sarasota

Went to the restaurant about a week ago. I've been looking for a solid ramen/Japanese restaurant for a long time. The only one that could scratch the itch has been Mitaka in Bradenton. But when I stepped through the door of Namo, I knew it was going to be a strong contender. When you sit down and look at the menu, you'll notice that they have a small but well throughout selection. To me that means that they put emphasize on quality, rather than throwing everything at the customer and hope that something hits. It also helps that the chef of the restaurant spent close to over a decade training in Japan. During my visit, I wanted to do a simple tonkotsu ramen and boy it was anything but simple. It. Delivered! The ingredients were brought together with a well thought out plan, and the addition of tempura nori, was definitely the kind of thoughtful small touch that I haven't experienced since eating ramen in Japan. Now that Namo showed me what it can do, my second visit, not more than a few days later, was to taste the rest of the menu. We ordered many of the appetizers and the sunomono salad from the salad section. Everything prepared, came in a timely manner and the food was legitimately outstanding. Each one of the dishes could be an instant classic! For the main course my friends and I ordered both of the ramen on the menu and two of the rice dishes. The don bowls we got were the salmon and the unagi (eel). First the ramen. The tonkotsu ramen was great just like the first time. But this time I also tried the Tomyummen ramen as well. It a spicy lemon grass ramen and if I were to describe it in one word, it would Bright! Highly recommend trying it! Both of the rice dishes were great! My Unagi dish made feel like I was back in Japan eating a meal prepared by my host mother. The rice bowl with filled with warmth, care, and very particular attention to detail. Be mindful though, for the Salmon dish, the menu reads "Salmon Teriyaki" but it's not the American salmon teriyaki that's drenched in a heavy sauce. This Salmon dish felt authentic and focused on the synchronization of each ingredient to create a delicate yet confident flavor. To finish off, we got the cheesecake for desert. It's definitely a small portion but after such a full meal it was the perfect finish. It was light and had a wonderful crunch thanks to the toping of little morsels on top.

Overall, Namo Izakaya has brought Japanese authenticity while also creating a beautiful blend of Japanese and Thai flavors. As of the day that I'm writing this, the restaurant has been open for exactly a month. I believe that as time goes on Namo will continue to evolve but I hope that it always holds on to it's...

Our family of four (including one son who studied in Japan) recently dined at Namo Izakaya Ramen & Yakitori in Sarasota, FL, and it was a delightful experience from start to finish. The atmosphere was warm and inviting, with a modern yet cozy vibe that perfectly complemented the authentic Japanese cuisine.

We kicked off our meal with the Okonomiyaki, a savory cabbage pancake that was an absolute standout. Made with egg, scallions, parsley, bonito flakes, a drizzle of spicy mayo, and okonomi sauce, it was a harmonious blend of textures and flavors—crisp yet tender, savory with just the right kick of spice. It set the tone for the rest of the meal and had us wanting more.

For our main dishes, we opted for a mix of ramen and yakitori options. The Creamy Curry was a comforting ramen bowl of rich, velvety broth paired with tender white-meat chicken and perfectly cooked noodles. The Tokyo Blaze brought a bold, fiery twist that didn’t overpower the dish but instead highlighted the quality of the beef and the depth of the accompanying sauce and perfectly-cooked rice. We also tried the Yakiniku, a beef dish that was flavorful and seasoned to perfection, showcasing the restaurant’s skill with yakitori.

Everything we ordered felt authentic and thoughtfully prepared, with fresh ingredients and a clear passion for Japanese cuisine shining through. The portions were generous, the service was friendly and attentive without being intrusive, and the overall experience left us eager to return.

Namo Izakaya Ramen & Yakitori is a gem in Sarasota for anyone craving a taste of Japan done right—our family can’t...

Newly opened Izakaya style Japanese restaurant serving ramen, rice bowls and skewers. I grew up in Japan and worked at an izakaya as a teenager so I was so excited to find out about this place opening! In most izakayas, the skewers are cooked in the open - but with the decor, this is close to an authentic experience.

We went for ramen originally but we wanted to try their skewers and apps too.

The portions were small but each dish was thoughtfully crafted. The only let down for me was the ramen. It was too small of a serving and there was only 1 egg, 2 chashu (we asked for extra so there’s more in the pic), and the noodles was not much.

We got the spicy miso which was rightfully spicy - we enjoyed the flavors a lot. The crunchy nori on it was sooo good.

Highly recommend the okonomiyaki. Caramelized, crunchy exterior with a soft chewy center that you’re sure to crave. It’s topped with bonito flakes. Only thing missing is benishouga and green onion topping to balance the flavors.

On the other hand we were able to try different things from the menu due to the smaller portions.

Don’t skip the yuzu cheesecake! You won’t regret it. Personally, I don’t like the crunchy stuff on it.

Looking forward to coming back for...