Best Japanese Restaurants in Lauderdale by the Sea

It was a a cool evening to dine outdoors but with the portable gas fire torches, my wife and I were comfortable. We were only looking for a light bite so my wife ordered the edamame and a California roll. I ordered Miso soup and a sampling of nigiri. The edamame was fresh with a light snap when biting and perfectly, lightly salted. The Miso broth was hot and hearty. Perfect on this cool Florida night. She told me she loved her California roll and I thought my nigiri was delicious. Dock fresh with brilliant colors. I chose the tuna, yellowtail and golden eye snapper. I'd order the same thing again in a heartbeat, but there were so many other items I'd like to try next time. She ordered a glass of champaign (by the glass) and didn't particularly care for it. Too dry she said. I chose a drink that is their spin on an old fashioned. (I forget the name) but it had ginger in it and it was delicious. Small side note, the brand of still water they serve is Mountain Valley. You don't see this brand very often but it was fantastic. So refreshing and crisp mouthfeel. I LOVE Acgua Panna and keep it at home but I may switch it up and try this brand of spring water if I ever see it in a store or online. We had a great experience at Takato and look forward to our next time here.

Our only disappointment with the restaurant was not having visited it sooner. Living in the neighborhood, we bypassed it many times before venturing out on a Monday night. To our amazement, the food, the ambiance and service were beyond expectations. Our server, Thomas, went above and beyond to make us feel welcome. His recommendation of a variation of our usual unfiltered sake was right on. Walking us through the menu, we selected the tuna tower, the Korean barbecue with rice, the grilled octopus and the crispy duck entre. All were excellent but the octopus and the duck were particularly noteworthy. Having worked in Turkey for many years, we can appreciate the correct way to tenderize and char grill octopus. Here, it was done to perfection. Likewise, the duck was crispy on the outside yet still moist on the inside after being sliced and quartered. The outside seating was not overcrowded like many similar venues, and the volume of the music did not preclude us from having strained conversations. While pricey by some Fort Lauderdale standards, it was well worth. Lastly, we were pleased that are open table reservation was promptly honored notwithstanding a busy restaurant.

Definitely will go back. Food was good atmosphere was good. Absolutely loved that place.

Always wonderful food and experience. We have been going for years