Morimoto Restaurant

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723 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19106

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(215) 413-9070
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Morimoto Restaurant - Philadelphia, PA
Reviews
( 76 )
( 42 )
( 17 )
( 9 )
( 4 )

Best

This restaurant is one of the finest. They serve among the most delicious Japanese cuisine in Philly. Great staff and affordable as well.

Worst

this is a fun place. after all, it is a steven starr experience. however, it's not all that. long waits, decent, but not extraordinary food, and the worst seats i have ever sat it...

Just like Heaven! 10/13/2002

For a birthday gift, my wife and I flew in from Cincinnati over the weekend for the sole purpose of eating at Morimoto. I can tell you that it was well worth the trip. Having read some of the early reviews I was a little worried about what the service was going to be like. Let me say this - everything was perfect! From the moment we arrived the wait staff was excellent. We sat at the sushi bar and ordered the top-level omakase. We had a front row seat for the Morimoto show. It was eight courses of pure heaven all capped off by Morimoto-san singing happy birthday to me after serving me a special desert complete with a birthday candle. The food was something special. Im still thinking about the kumamoto oyster dish. By far the most expensive meal Ive ever eaten, but it was worth every penny! Pros: Incredible food, Amazing decor Cons: Expensive more
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Awesome 10/11/2002

The food was the best! The sushi was fresher than anything I have had in Hawaii or on the west coast. The tempura was crispy, but very flavorable, with a hint of gorganzola. more
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HUGE IRON CHEF FAN... 9/23/2002

was star struck when I saw Morimoto preparing dishes for us. I am from NYC and frequent NOBU and was suprised to know that there were several dishes from NOBU at Morimotos restaurant. My favorite dish was the Oyster Foie Gras - it was impeccable. The Black Cod miso was not as good as NOBU's, but the decor and a glimpse of the Iron Chef was enough for me! I will definetely come back! Pros: Decor, Morimoto, Ambiance Cons: Service, Selection more
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Excellent Food, so-so Service 8/29/2002

The food was excellent!! The decor is unique and fun, but it was a little loud (maybe some sound baffles would do the interior well). I was a little disappointed with the service that I got; first one of the items I ordered was not placed and next they charged someone else's desert on our menu. Pros: Creative Food, Excellent Decor Cons: Suspect Service more
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fanjapanesetastic 8/7/2002

Since their Nov 2001 opening, I've been there seven wonderful times for seven wonderful dining experiences. Pros: valet parking, unusual dishes more
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Iron let down! 8/4/2002

After looking foward to it's opening, Morimoto's was an overpriced let down. $20 for tiny shrimp, I don't care that they were drowned in sake. The seven spice lobster was ruined by all the spice. If you are into being ""seen"" then this may be the place for you. Cons: OVERPRICED more
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unhappy experience 8/1/2002

The food quality was below par. I paid $10 an ounce for teh kobi beef and it was tough!? When I asked about it I was told that it was from Australia, not Japan? Our other food came out cold and teh service was absent. Stay away unless you like being ripped off. Cons: cold food, slow service, over priced more
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the Iron chef is golden 7/30/2002

I couldnt believe Morimoto was ACTUALLY there! The food is awsome! Don't be put off by the odd set up, it's well worth the time to just stop and have a few appetizers. Pros: cool crowd more
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Worth every penny... 7/30/2002

Being a huge Iron Chef fan, I was excited when Morimoto opened in Philly. However, at first it seemed that most of the reviews were negative. After going this past Sunday for our anniversary, it is evident that Morimoto has listened and improved. We ordered the $120 Omakase, which was one of the best dining experiences I've ever had (and I've been to every top restaraunt in Philly, and have traveled to many as well). Service was great, food was amazing, and the night was incredible. I really can't say enough about our experience, and recommend it to anyone! more
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Memorable 7/29/2002

Morimoto is now my best friend. He was very nice! As far as the food, it was perfect! John, our waiter was the VERY BEST. The manager I spoke with; hope I never have to again, borderline rude/mean. But all in all it was worth flying half way across the US to check it out. I realize every restaurant, every server, and every chef can have a bad day, but on the day we went it was great. All the people in this organizatin arae extremely nice and have enough experience that if you get a bad meal, or bad service, it is an isolated case. These people are real professionals. Pros: Morimotto, serving dishes, food Cons: Star dress like a bum, uncomfortable seats, poorly mixed drinks more
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YUM YUM YUM!!! 7/29/2002

My girlfriends and I drove from New York to Philly just to eat at Morimoto. It was worth the 2 hour drive there! The food is really good and I was pleasantly surprised to find that Mr. Morimoto himself was present & slaving away in the kitchen for us diners! Although a bit pricey (appetizers avg at 20 a pop, entrees around $30) I enjoyed every bite I ate. The decor is pretty nice too, and definitely original. Waiters explain every dish when they serve it and are very attentive. A great place for all you Iron Chef fans! more
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Cod Sperm 7/23/2002

It is simply impossible to get better sushi than Morimoto in this city. The entire Morimoto experience is (almost) worth the price. more
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Expensive but well worth it. 7/9/2002

I've eaten in four and five star eateries around the world, and the food outshined all that have come before. My suggestion: go with the chef's choice. You'll be offered 3 price-fixed options. We went with the midrange at 100$ each. We were served 9 courses, and our likes/dislikes were accounted for. My favorite was the pan seared cod, and I'm not a cooked fish fan, but oh my goodness, I ate every morsel. BTW, pricing doesn't change the # of courses, just the ingredients. I left with such food happiness that I can't wait to return. Mighty_Mouse 8:) more
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Good Not Great... 7/7/2002

Morimoto is a master and should be applauded for his efforts on Chestnut Street. The space is nice though a touch loud. The menu is classic Morimoto and one in which you can't go wrong. Unfortunately, a lot of the selection is recycled Nobu fare. True, he does command a tremendous amount of respect and pressence, but he just doesn't hit it out of the park here. Truly a delight and worth making reservations, but if you've been to Nobu, be warned that your dinner at Morimoto is going to seem like Deja Vu all over again. Pros: Morimoto in the flesh, food, service Cons: price, noisy more
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THE BEST EVER!!! 6/24/2002

I will never eat another New York Strip until I am back in Philly. Everything was spectacular. The food, the service and Morimoto himself. I walked away depressed because I knew I would never have anything so good again. more
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Domo Arigato! 6/12/2002

This is the best Japanese food I have ever eaten from California to Miami and every where in between!! It doesn't get any better than this. My boyfriend and I did the 9 course omikase and god damn it was worht every penny we paid for it! If you can afford it that is the way to go. You don't know what they are going to bring out for you next but guaranteed you will enjoy every bite of it. The tuna tartare, the half pan seared lobster, the kobe beef, the scallops, the sushi and the sashimi are all excellent choices. Only two drawbacks: the dessert at the end was a little two much for the two of us to eat after 8 other courses, and the specialty drinks are a little pricey. I now fully understand why Chef Morimoto is an Iron Chef. Domo Arigato! Pros: interior, Morimoto in the flesh, fresh Cons: very loud, waitstaff, Green Teateeni more
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BEST meal i've had EVER!!! 5/28/2002

been to nobu, jean georges, le cirque, and basically every top restaurant in NYC. have to admit the $150 omakase at morimoto is the best meal i've ever had. we were blessed with a huge brick of toro, abalone, fois grois, uni, and the precious kobe beef in an 11 course out-of-this meal. as for the decor... very modern in shape and color. feels like a modern museum or an art gallery in soho. service was exceptional as expected and mr. morimoto warmed up to us after an initial aloofness. overall, the BEST meal i've ever had and would recoomend it to anyone within a 150 miles of Philly!!! more
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over rated 5/21/2002

Although the food was good, it was no better then any other good Japenese restaurant..yet the prices are through the roof. The ambience is too sterile and the phallic symbols on each table sort of made me lose my appetite. Will not return. Pros: decent food Cons: over priced, sterile atmosphere, mediocre service more
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Menu for Morimoto Restaurant


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Editorial

  • In Short
    Just beyond neon-chartreuse glass doors, Chef Morimoto's elongated culinary theater welcomes diners with undulating bamboo ceilings, color-changing booths and the Iron Chef,...

  • 7/6/2006 Provided by Citysearch
Additional information
  • Hours: Sat: 5pm-12am, 5pm-10pm, Sun: 5pm-10pm, Thu: 5pm-10pm, 11:30am-2pm, Mon-Wed: 11:30am-2pm, Fri: 5pm-12am, 5pm-10pm, 11:30am-2pm
  • Payments: American Express, Diner's Club, Master Card, Visa
  • Neighborhoods: Center City East, Center City
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