Namo Izakaya Ramen & Yakitori

My wife and I had been wanting to try Namo since it popped up downtown, and we finally got there on a Saturday night. The place was full, lots of energy, people at the bar and tables, but they got us seated pretty quick even without a reservation. Nice surprise for a weekend. The vibe is cozy and modern Japanese izakaya; warm lighting, wood accents, that inviting feel that's casual but special. Perfect for a date night or just chilling with some good food. They have a great selection of beers (Japanese ones like Asahi, Sapporo, and some others), and we enjoyed a few cold, crisp, went perfect with the meal. Service kept things flowing smooth. We started with a couple different yakitori skewers, juicy, nicely charred, great smoky flavor without being too much. The pork bao buns were awesome too, soft buns, tender pork, little sweet-savory sauce and fresh bits on top. Really hit the spot; we could've gone for more. For mains, I got the Tonkotsu ramen. Broth was rich and deep, full of that porky umami, super flavorful, didn't need anything extra. Noodles had good chew, chashu melted in your mouth, egg was jammy. One of the best ramens around Sarasota for sure. My wife had the salmon, grilled/teriyaki style, crispy skin, flaky and fresh inside, came with rice and sides. She loved how light but satisfying it was after the apps. We finished with the yuzu cheesecake for dessert, tangy, creamy, nice bright citrus that cut through everything else. Super good, but the slices are tiny, so definitely get one per person if you both want a solid portion. We almost arm-wrestled over the last bite. Service was excellent all night, our server was friendly, knew the menu well, checked in just right, even when it was slammed. Food came out hot, timed perfect, no issues. Handled the busy crowd like champs. Value's solid, yakitori skewers are on the cheaper side, apps reasonable, ramens around that $19 mark, desserts affordable. We left happy and full, already planning what to get next time (maybe more skewers or try some sushi rolls). If you're in Sarasota craving real ramen, yakitori, and a fun spot with good drinks, Namo's a winner. Downtown spot's easy to get to, parking can be downtown-tricky but worth it. This one's a keeper for us; we'll be back soon. Go give it a try, you'll see why we loved it.

After a disappointing early dinner we were happy to see Namo was open for a late bite. They have a very good tonkatsu ramen and a decent selection of yakitori skewers. The pork belly was a little too fatty for my liking but was tasty nonetheless. The soup could be hotter. I am not a fan of the fried nori - I prefer Our server was very good at making sure we were taken care of.

Namo has been the best place for me to find ramen. The curry ramen is my favorite and it’s not too spicy. You can add spice and I do, and I also add in shashu, mushrooms and cilantro. This place is so good and the sweetest staff. Franchesca has remembered me for so long and I bring as many friends I can here. She is so sweet and awesome! The sushi is so good as well! Love this place 10/10

We had a wonderful experience here! Highly recommend NEGIMA chicken skews. The meat is well seasoned and the tenderness will catch your soul with just one bite! Even the grilled scallion, it was so delicious that we finished all of them. We had Kyoto and really enjoyed the ramen without soup for the first time. The cake of the week we ordered was strawberry and banana, which was really fresh and super light. You gotta try this place!

Absolutely one of our favorite restaurants in Sarasota and our favorite local ramen. I really appreciate that you can swap out rice noodles with no up-charge for a gluten friendly option. The creamy curry is a fun fusion and the tonkotsu is delicious. We’ve also tried some of their appetizers, hand rolls, and weekly cake, all of which were delightful. The ambience is perfect for a fun date night & the employees are always kind!

Great experience at Namo Izakaya. The miso soup was amazing—simple but really rich and comforting. My wife had the unagi bowl and loved it; the flavor and portion were perfect. Nice atmosphere, good service, and solid Japanese comfort food. Would definitely come back.

Broth was soo flavorful, the meal was exceptional 👌 the staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Expect to pay about $25 plus per person. Worth every dollar !