OMO Japanese Soul Food: Experience Authentic Japanese Cuisine in Springfield

Very busy when I arrived but I did not have to wait long at all. I ordered the ramen with pork belly and chocolate mochi ice cream and omg it was all so good. Wait staff and food runners were wonderful! For myself it was less than $20 for dinner and dessert! I loved the atmosphere and the kitty on the wall was maybe my favorite thing! I will be coming back and bringing friends!

I had a Japanese noodle bowl with Udon noodles, OMO spicy sauce and thin slices of beef. It was very good, as was the Kiran Ichiban beer but the spicy tuna roll for appetizer was very disappointing. Our server was very nice and efficient.

After being sick with Covid and missing out on work for three days, getting taken to a new restaurant (for me) by my besties was nothing short of an ABSOLUTELY DELIGHTFUL LADIES' DINNER DATE!!!!!!!! IT WAS MAGICAL (for me) to walk in to this PRETTY PLACE and enjoy delectable and nostalgic Japanese Cuisine and truly take in the enchanting ambiance. Rissa Walford and Michaela Pippin often giggled at my continuous Ooohs and Aaaaaahs and candid snapshots I was capturing of all the cute things I found from the splendid decor. This Birthday Treat is definitely in the books as one of my favorite birthdays. Thank you ladies, I love you both!!!!!

Such an beautiful Japanese restaurant with so many cat decorations! There were also some anime decorations as well which is great for any manga/anime lovers out there. Plenty of tasty food options-- most of which were very customizable! I personally got the Fuji Mountain Chicken regular bento box. Only $12 for a fried dumpling, salad, 4 california rolls, edamame, bed of rice and chicken entree. I had never heard of the Fuji Mountain chicken, and I'm glad I tried it. The chicken is perfectly fried and topped with a lemon sauce and parmensan cheese. It's more of a hint of lemon, not too sour and not too sweet either. So much food, the leftovers lasted me for a second meal! If you sit on the first floor, a pretty neat cat robot comes out and delivers your food! It can additionally play Happy Birthday! One of my favorite restaurants so far in Springfield! I'll be coming back a lot for sure.

I was excited to try Omo Japanese Soul Food, especially since I’ve been to Japan and was craving something authentic. The place has a nice vibe and the staff was friendly, but the food didn’t quite hit the mark for me. The Japanese curry tasted more like chicken pot pie than the rich, comforting curry I remember from Japan. The Lion King roll was good flavor-wise, just smaller than I expected. I also had the ramen with chashu, and the meat tasted like it had been reheated, which took away from the experience. Overall, not a bad spot, but if you’ve had authentic Japanese food before, you might notice the difference. Still might be a good intro for someone new to Japanese flavors.

As someone from Chicago who’s tried countless Japanese restaurants, I can confidently say this spot in Springfield, MO truly blew me away. From the moment you walk in, you’re welcomed by a beautifully designed interior that captures the essence of Japan. The standout feature is the stunning sakura tree placed right at the entrance, setting a peaceful and elegant tone for the entire dining experience. The warm lighting, wooden accents, and minimalist decor made the atmosphere feel both authentic and inviting. It felt like stepping into a quiet corner of Kyoto. The food was just as impressive as the ambiance. We started with the crab rangoons and sweet potato tempura—both were incredibly light and crispy, with absolutely no greasiness. The rangoons were creamy and rich inside, while the tempura had that natural sweetness that paired beautifully with the dipping sauce. For the main dishes, we tried the chicken katsu and Japanese ramen, and this is where the magic really happened. You could truly taste the umami in every bite. The katsu was perfectly breaded and juicy. The ramen broth was rich, balanced, and clearly made with care—honestly, I’ve never tasted something this umami-rich even back home in Chicago. We ended the meal with their signature dessert, and it was a bomb—the perfect sweet finish to an already amazing meal. Rich, decadent, and beautifully presented, it left us speechless. Everything we ordered tasted carefully crafted, and you could tell the kitchen takes pride in their work. This isn’t just a place to eat—it’s an experience. If you’re in Springfield or just passing through, do not miss this place. It’s a rare gem, and I’m already looking forward to coming back.

The food was good, and the portion sizes of the ramen were huge. I had the Omo Spicy Ramen with beef, and it was good. The atmosphere was very, very cute! So many cats everywhere! There was a large Totoro and Sailor Moon figurines inside of a glass case, which I loved. They were fairly busy, and I try to be understanding about certain things like that, which is why we still tipped well on top of the automatically added gratuity. However, we never did receive take away boxes, even after flagging our server down to ask for them. Also, we didn't get refills on our drinks after about halfway into eating our meals. We had reservations for a larger group (12), and were placed downstairs. It was a little cramped. We had to physically move the table for our party to sqeeze into the chairs against the wall. Side note: The robot server does not go to the downstairs area, so if you wanted to experience that, I recommend not going with a group. If I go back, it would be with a smaller party and earlier in the afternoon on a weekday to get a better feel of what it could be.

Really a beautiful place! The sushi and Ramen are incredible. There is a little robot that brings drinks and food , it's really neat. The decor is beautiful. Definitely recommend giving this little gem a try!